The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
kindergarten Work in San Francisco.


The advocates of the kindergarten con-
tend that this system of the great apostle
Froebel should be the underlying founda-
ton OF all education. They contend, also,
that the regnant kindergarten principle,
1--WE learn through doing" should be the
basic principle in all education. This was
what the Great Teacher implied when he
said eff any man will do his will be
shall know of the doctrine" The kinder
garten trains the head heart and hand
simultaneously.
The epochs of educational growth follow
the divinely ordained laws of vegetable
growth. There is the root-life, the stem
life and the blossom life. That the bios
som will depend very largely upon the
care and nurture given to the root no one
will deny. The kindergarten has much to
say in regard to motherhood. Hence, this
system is far-reaching and wide-branching
Units scope.
Women have had much to do with the
introduction and promotion of the kinder
garten in this country and in this State.
In feet, this work has been very largely in
their own hands. Perhaps the reason for
this lies in the fact that woman, with her
keen intuition and quick insight, sees the
tree IN the germ; the sage and the great
man in the child.
Seventeen years ago there was not one
free kindergarten west OF the Rocky
Mountains; today there are about seventy
in San Francisco alone, including those in
orphanages, asylums and day homes.
Branching out from San Francisco as a
center they have extended in every direc-
ton from the extreme northern part of
Washington Territory to lower California
and New Mexico and they have planted
themselv es in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado
and have swept on to the Hawaiian
Island The work in San Francisco has
been phenomenal in its growth. No city
in the Union has made such rapid strides
in this work among the little children as
San Francisco. This is largely owing to
the fact that persons of large wealth have
been induced to study the work for them
selves and have become convinced of its
permanent and essential value to the State.
The press of the City has also contri buted
very largely to the result. To wise, liberal
hearted men and women and to the press
are largely due the rapid growth and sue
cess OF kindergarten work in San Francisco.
Now, the practical question is, What
dergartens actually accomplished for the
children, the community and the world?
WHAT'S the bearing of this work upon the
future of this City? After seventeen years
of faithful work, substantial results are to
be seen, which can neither be gainsaid nor
denied. The record which these children
make when they enter the public school
is a tribute not only to the value of kim
dergarten training in the developing of all
the faculties, but to the unfolding of the
moraI.nature as we'll. There is q steady
stream Of influence that flows back into
the families which tells for good, no mat
ter how wretched and degraded the house
holds may be. The parents come to feel
that their children are of some value, and
they treat them with consideration and
kindness. The children feel the warmth
of love, and they unfold and blossom
like plants in the sunshine.
Another point-the Kindergarten pre-
pares for the arts and trades. 1t lays a
good strong foundation for industrial edu-
cation. 1t takes the little child at 8 years
of age. and through the use and agency of
utilized play, sets the wheels OF industri-
GUS habits in motion. This universal
instinct of play in children means
something. The knack is in making
II constructive instead of destruc-
tive. Activity is the law of healthful
childhood. The kindergarten turns it to
good account.
In the kindergarten the child is taught
TO paw for what he gets-to earn it by
effort and industry. He is taught to scorn
to let others do for him that which he can