Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-30
TEACHING THE LITTLE ONES.
Discussion at the Special Meeting of the Co
lumbar kindergarten Association.

Discussion at the Special Meeting of the CO.
lumbar Kindergarten Association.
Though little business was transacted yester-
day afternoon at the special meeting Of the Co
iumbian kindergarten Association the question
OF the care of the little children who are not
old enough to attend school was thoroughly
discussed and the first steps toward obtaining
that which the association formed for were
accomplished. The meeting was well attended
and number Of new members were admitted.
One of the large rooms of the Red Cross Soci-
ETY. at their building at the corner of 18th and
F streets was kindly offered for the meeting
Mrs. PGhbe Hearst, whose name, with that
of Mrs. Stanford. is largely identified with
the great work IN charity kindergartens of the
Pacific coast. has reconsidered her refusal to
accept the office of president. and will fill the
place. according to a letter received too late to
be read at the meeting. In her absence yester-
day Mr.. Carroll ID. Wright. the first vice pres
ident. presided. He called on Mr.. Powell, the
Superintendent of the public schools who
spoke at some length on the general subject of
kindergartens. their benefits and necessities.
Mr.. Wright followed with a statement of the
conditions of tine kindergarten system as car
ried out at Montclair. y. j., under the control
of DIR. Randall Spaulding. The success of the
system there, as shown by the remarks of Mr..
Wright, met with the hearty approval of those
present.
MISS TowNsEND's EXPERIENCE.
Miss Townsend told of her practical ex-
perience in one Of the kindergartens in this
city. She had visited one Of these institutions
just thirteen days after it had begun. The
teacher told her that when the children first
came there thev were uncomfortable and wild.
They fought and scratched and did everything
except what should be done. In less than two
weeks they had been subdCed and all appeared
happy. contented and well behaved. As an
illustration she told of how politely the little
ones acted at the lunch hour.
DIR. Sewell suggested the appointment of a
committee which should make inquiries and re-
port to the next meeting upon the number of
kindergartens now existing in the city, what
rooms were available for use as such and what
the cost would be for renting the same. The
suggestion was put in the form of a motion and
as such was adopted. The chair appointed DR..
Sewell, Mrs. Sarah Z. Stevens and Mr.. Mann.
DIR. Shipper spoke of the good that Miss
Myrtilla Miner had accomplished in the kinder
garten line from very small beginning. Miss
Miner had raised 81. 600 and borrowed % 900
more. with which there had been erected on
property just in the rear of the British legation
the first Normal Training School in the city.
This property was sold and the Miner School, on
18th street between p and Q. built. Later
the Miner Free kindergarten was built. The
last Is now In operation at the corner Of ~
street and Maryland avenue.
SUPERINTENDENT PowELL's PLAN.
Superintendent Powell In reply to a question
expressed it as his opinion that the best plan
would not be to ask Congress to establish these
kindergartens. for if this was done there would
be a demand for from so to 100 such schools
and very large appropriation would be neces-
sary. This would be difficult matter to OBJ
tain, and it might be some time before it could
be secured, if at all. He believed the
better plan to be for the asso-
citation to direct it's energies toward
having stricken from the appropriation bill
the provision which prevents the schools from
admitting children under six wears of age. If
this could be done he could open certain
schools in the locations in which they are most
necessary to children of younger FEARS. He
would. If allowed. introduce young children in
ten of these schools at once and in others SO
soon as the demand made them necessary. Mr.
Powell said that the kindergarten system was
already introduced in the lower grades of the
public schools in this city and explained in
what way the children were instructed.
Mrs. Louisa Pollock opposed ne idea that the
system In the public schools was or could be
the same the principles underlying the true
kindergarten system.
DR.. Kent and Prof. Gregory upheld the plan
suggested by Supt. Powell that 1t would be bet
ter 10 have the age limit stricken from the law
than to ask Congress to appropriate a large
sum TO introduce tne system here.
AT the close of the meeting Miss Clara Bar
ton served coffee to all present.
THE LIST OF OFFICERS.
With the additional vice presidents elected
yesterday the full list of officers now is as fol-
lows: President, Mrs. Hearst; first vice presi-
dent. Carroll d. Wright: secretary J. Pickman
Mann; honorary vice presidents, Miss Clara
Barton. Mrs. John G. Carlisle. Mrs. A. W.
Greeiy, Mrs. Teunis Hamlin. Mrs. Louisa
Mann. Mrs. Sarah f. Stevens. Mrs. john q.
Walker. Mrs. c. G.. Brice. Mrs. J. Z. McPher-
son. Mrs. L. Il. Hit. Mrs. Eroch Totten. Mrs
Henry F. Blount. Mrs. Inos. f. WaSsaman.
Bishop Keane, Bishop Hurst. Rev. DR.. J. E.
Rankin, Mrs. Jno. A. Logan. Mrs. Daniel
Lamont. Mrs. John Dalzell. Mrs. Don Cameron,
Mr.. Henry Cabot Lodge. Mrs. F. 2. stock
bridge, Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnson. Mrs
Julian James. Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. Mrs. C.
G. Glover. Mr.. Gardiner Hubbard. Mr.. C. NJ.
Ffoulke. Miss Kate Field. Mrs. Leland STAN
ford. Dir. yelling Judge, Juo. Davis and Prof.
s. Z. Langley.