The record-union., 1893-05-05
SACRAMENTO'S KINDERGARTENS.
What Has Been Accomplished for the
Little Ones
Through the Efforts of Some of the
Charitable and Public-Spirited
Ladies of the City.

Mrs. Charles McCreary, President of
the Froebel kindergarten Association,
makes the following report. showing
what has been accomplished in the last
three years in the way of establishing and
maintaining free kindergarten schools IN
this city for the benefit of the children of
poor families. The showing is one that
does great credit to the ladies engaged in
the commendable work, demonstrating
as 1t does the existence of kind hearts
and charitable impulses that are ever
alive to the necessities and welfare of
the poor and needy:
-Four years ago the seed was planted
which to-day bids fair TO become spread
ing tree. In May, 1889, the first kinder
garten school of this association was
opened in unpretentiouS quarters in
vacant store on the corner of Second and
NJ streets. In accordance with kinder
garten principles, the room was made as
attractive as time and taste could make it,
and soon thirty little ones of that locality
were learning lessons of patience, in
dustry and good will toward men.
"At first one room was deemed large
enough for the needs of the little school,
but it was not long before the back rooms
had to be swept and garnished to provide
numbers. To-day three rooms are IN use,
and the books show an enrolment of
ninety-six children.
''In the year following-April. 1890. on
FroebePs birthday-another school was
opened on the corner of Fifth and p
streets. This school, although auxiliary
to the Sacramento Free kindergarten
Association, is controlled by a separate
society, which has its own officers and its
own funds, and is known as the 'Froebel
Kindergarten.
And still there was work to be done,
for in the Orphan Asylum of this city
were fifty-five babies who, as a foregone
conclusion, would some day have to look
the world in the face with only their own
hands and brains a heritage. So the
next step was to open a school in the
basement of the schoolhouse on the
grounds of the asylum-known as Sac
ramento kindergarten, No. p
with the establishment of the third
school came a necessity for increased en-
deavor on the part of the ladies, but Sac
ramento has proved equal to the de-
mands. The schools are supported by
monthly subscriptions and donations
from public-spirited individuals, together
with the proceeds from various entertain
ments.
The fourth annual meeting was held
at the residence of Mrs. Charles Nc
Creary on April 1lth, when the same Off
GERS were unanimously reelected, as fol-
lows: President, Mrs. Charles Nc
Creary; First Vice-President, Mrs. II.
Welnstock; Second President, Mrs.
w. a. Briggs; Treasurer, Mrs. w. Col
clough; Secretary, Mrs. +. Y. Williams;
Mesdames Upson, Hadley,
Holl, Wilsey, Sparrow smith, Higgins
and Van Voorhies.
THE Treasurer's report for the year,
for the two schools-Sacramento Kinder
n AGx
was as follows:
balance on hand at last annual
StateIilo 13O 20
Received from subscriptions and
donations 1000 so
Total. 2,131 a2
Paid out lor salaries, rents, sup
cash psf IN SBa 8Snf. isp1i59 3Pzl G5s g g
,131 22
Last October the Froebel Society.
with view to disseminating kindergarten
principles in section OF the city not
heretofore enjoying this privilege, re-
moved their school from Fifth and p to
Seventh street, near q, where they oc-
cupy the basement of the a. NJ. L.
Church.
THE good work does not end with the
schoolroom. Many destitute homes are
frightened by the never-failing SYM
pathy of the kindergarteners, and clothes
are freely distributed among the really
needy children.
THE present outlook is fair, provided
the long-looked-for amalgamation with
the public schools will take place at no
very distant date. That the trend of pub
lie opinion is in this direction is indi-
Gated by the fact that in four of the
largest cities the kindergarten has be-
come part of the general school sys-
tem-in Philadelphia, Boston, Milwauke ZEE
and st. Louis. Four other cities-New
York, Chicago, Brooklyn and Buffalo
are putting forth efforts to secure that
end. Indeed, the word comes that the
New York City Board of Education has
resolved to adopt the system.
I'VE do not believe that Sacramento
will be behind other cities in a good
movement of this sort. In 1870 there
were only five kindergarten schools in
the United States. In 1898 there are $500.
of which 65 are in San Francisco and
Oakland.
Thanks are heartily extended by the
ladies TO all who have assisted in any way
to maintain this charity"