The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-08-10

!
I the various gifts, occupations, games,
stories and songs, that the result
! should be a quickening into life of the
moral, physical, mental, social and
! spiritual part of its being.
! That the significance of the system
is being acknowledged and accepted
! by intelligent men and women
! throughout the world cannot be de-
MED. The dissemination of its prin-
ciples have been laid upon men and
I women of high intellectual attain
ments. Among these may be men
/ toned the Baroness Won Marenholtz
/ Bulow. She was faithful and enthu-
siastic follower of Froebel, having re-
| ceived thorough training under him.
| She travelled extensively, being sue
cessful in awakening a wonderful in
| terest in the movement. She estab-
lished the first kindergarten periodi-
cal. Her Normal SchOoW for kin
dergarteners is perhaps the most per-
feet of the kind existing, because it is
so truly conducted after the reformers
spirit.
Last year (lS93l, news came an
nouncing the death of this most noble
woman. OF a truth it may be said
helped through her influence to higher
and better lives. 1t is said of her that
the result of her personal work has
already entered into the educational
institutions and literature of nations
to an extent not yet recorded of any
other woman in the annals OF educa-
ton. Her niece, the young Baroness
Won Bulow, is carrying on the work
of her aunt with a great degree of
earnestness. 1t may be said of Queen
Victoria that she has not only had
her own children trained strictly by
the FrOebelian system, but she has
given inspiration to others; among
these is the Princess Helena, of Rus
STA, who gladly accepts the title of
Lady PaTOness of the training
school for kindergartners.
The Austrian GOvernmentre recognizes
the great public value of the kinder
garten, as may be seen from the fact
that it requires all pupils of normal
schools throughout tue empire, of
whatever grade of instruction, to
closely study the principles and it is
compulsory on the people to send all
their children to some kindergarten.
Kindergartens are now widely esta-
blished in all the German States. In
England, in 1872, an association was
formed. Huxley, the famous scientist,
was a member, and gave his influence
with other noted men in the founding
of an institution for training kinder
gartners in Manchester. In this same
year probably the most important in
stitutiOn on the Continent was found
ed in Dresden.
In Rome, in 1891, there were twelve
free kiDdergartens under Government
support.
Here and there in the "Oriental
world" the education of the early
child-life is receiving attention. Even
those so long bound by the shackles
of conservatism and superstition are
catching the spirit of the child educa-
tion, as may be seen by messages from
India. One bearing the name of
Ramabai, a well-educated high-caste
HindOo woman, says: "You may put
my name among the workers in the
interest of the kindergarten system.
My kindergarten training class is
prospering.n Word comes from Mrs.
Lanson, who has been nine years in
India. She has begun work in her
girls school, and is constantly being
urged to open a school in the city near
where she lives.
The fact that so many of the edu-
Gated natives are accepting the system
is surely an indication that the work
is advancing.
With eighty millions of little chill
dren in this darkened land, is there
not wonderful opportunity for the
elevation of child life? /
During the last years of FrOebePs
life his thoughts were anXiOusly turn
ing to the possibilities of his new sys-
tenn. With tender solicitude, and
something of prophetic vision, he
penetrated the future, catching as it
seemed an outline, dim though it was,
of its progressive, enlightening infu-
ence.
When the Emperor of Germany
prohibited his work it is said that the |
venerable founder of the kindergarten |
turned his thoughts to the New |
World across the seas. With feelings |
of confidence he recognized Americas |
spirit of intellectual advancement, |
which he considered the only one in |
the world with which his creative |
method was in complete harmony. |
He said, NOW if they will not recog- |
nize and support my cause in the
fatherland l will go to America where
new life is freely unfolding itself, and
a new education of man will find
footing, and where the interests of |
childhood will be lovingly and faith
fully nurtUred."
Strong was his desire to personally |
introduce the work into the United |
States, but his advanced stage of life
made this an impossibility. Perhaps
we may trace a partial fulfillment of |
his prophecy as we still further con-
slider the steadily increasing progress
of the work.
The first kindergarten i'm America
was started in Boston in 1859 under
the supervision of Miss Elizabeth p.
Peabody. Seven years afterward she
visited Germany, there studying the
subject with Frau Froebel. She re
turned to her work, which had been
for year, thoroughly
with the refOrmer's spirit.
her efforts the American
Froebel Union was formed in Boston
in 1877, and she has been instrumen-
tai in bringing about a general awak-
ening over the whole country in the