New-York tribune., 1896-05-08
FOR FREE KINDERGARTENS.
WHAT is BEING DONE UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF THE BROOK
LYN SOCIETY.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARs-THIRTEEN KINDERGARTENs NOW IN
oPERATIoN-MRs. CHRISTIANS GIFT
OF sl0OOo-AN ITEM OF $4,000 IN
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BUDGET.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BUDGET.
The impression prevails in many minds. ow-
ing, doubtless to erroneous statement pub
lished some time ago. that the Brooklyn Free
kindergarten Society has large amount OF
money at It's disposal. and that it Is not In the
least hampered in carrying on its work by a
lack Of funds. In point of fact, its resources
are limited, and the recent special gifts MADE
to 1t go only a little way toward meeting the
annual expenditure which the members Of the
society assume.
The statement of the treasurer, made at the
annual meeting held few evenings ago, Is also
misleading 10 a certain extent 1t showed
comfortable balance on hand at the present
time. without setting forth that good pro-
portion of this was subscribed for certain spe-
cial funds and cannot be diverted to the gen.
| eral uses OF the society.
TWO CONSIDERABLE GIFTS.
The truth is that only two considerable gifts
have ever been made to the society. or the
Kindergarten Association, as 1t has heretofore
been known The first Of these came from the
descendants Of the late Edward Richardson
and consisted Of a certain mission building
which. when sold, brought into the treasury
OF the society s15OO.
The second has been lately made by Mrs
Hans s. Christian. who has given to the society
the sum OF $4,000 the income Of which VIII
be used in supporting the kindergarten to be
maintained in building which Is being erected
under her direction in connection with the First
Place Methodist Episcopal Church.
Now. when properly invested. the income from
one of these funds will be no more than $40
n year and from the other $500 year 10
carry on a kindergarten. even with the modest
salary scale established by the Brooklyn So
ciety. costs fully $1,000 year when a room mas
TO be hired for the purpose. Some or the KIM
dergartens are conducted In churches or sun
dav-school rooms, where no rent has to be
paid and in such cases the total cost IS con-
siderablv reduced. 1t will be seen. therefore,
tho, tho income from the gifts mentioned will
nav. perhaps one-half OF the cost Of a prop
ery equipped kindergarten which can care
for forty or fifty children.
A number OF prominent citizens have TOT
several wears been contributing 800 apiece IN
sunnort of this work and 1t Is believed that the
interest of none OF them has died out. The gen.
eral membership of the society comprises Soo
men and women each Of whom contributes %
or more annually. II 1t were not for energetic
canvaseing in ts behalf throughout the year
tho society would not be able to carry on It's
work for any length of time
IN A TRANSITION STAGE
Iuet now the society Is In n sort OF transition
s,aqe A few months ago 1t was decided that
Il would be a good thing for 1t to be incor-
| norated Having for five years borne the name
| NJ "assoclation" Il naturally desired 10 retain
| q hut II was found that there was already IN
| BROOKLYN an incorporated institution having the
name Brooklyn kindergarten and High "c"oo'
| Association. which is the official name Oh '"e
| FroeDel Academy.
7, yyas then decided TO adopt the name BROOK
| ,vn Free Kindergarten Society and the cer'ih-
| cato was duly fled with the following incorpo-
| rators: Frank l.. Babbott. Mrs. Ellen 1. broeh-
| wav Charles y. Chadwick. MISS Caroi"e d.
| lie Row. Henry w. Maxwell a. Emerson fail'ie''
| George Foster Peabody, Frederick b' fra'', 4''''
| Mary Sharpe Mrs. Cornela X. Shepard Eu"aiu
| NJ Shepard and Hayden w. Wheeler. Ihese per
| ors form, the first Board OF Directors and VIII
act as such until the first annual meeting, which
| will be held on the third Monday OF Octopei
| The annual meetings OF the oid assoc.a''Vii, a.,
have been held on the first Monday ID Nay a. addi.
that was done at the meeting this year. III iuui y
| lion 10 the reading OF certain reports was " -
adopt the bylaws which had been prepareu ioi
the society The old officers VIII ro"t,' ,m Nc,o.
hor After the annual meeting on May tnc
| directors held meeting. at whlcn .he snov sssnV
| officers were chosen ana steps 'dhcn " NJ.
| tha deed OF gif. Of the $4,000 given py Mis'
Christian.
| WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION.
| NH ossoo,a,ion which Is now merged into the
society was organized at meeting held IN the
| DIT Institute five years ago. 1t has now
| thirteen kindergartens under Its care, althoush
| no, all ~ them are fully supported by IT, There
| ,e reason 70 believe that this number VIII soon
| be considerably increased. ,,o,o,
| The latest one 10 be opened is kindergarten
for colored children, estabhsnea III ear ear Wvrtie
| ave. IL is called the Ministers kindergarteh d d
| find raised among the ciergymeh Vi '"0 N'@'
being applied to It's support. CO.,
tember will be maintained in part by the M IN
come OF the Christian FUND ~ WIN sho o ha vinp
mortal 10 Mrs Christians husband. sne naSii,s I
| decided TO devote the money Tor tnS puiPoee ~
| stead OF erecting memoriai "Inugw g.,o - ua g
| honor In her younger days Ars ~ M sa,' now
| actively engaged In church work ana saw no"
| Important II is TO care for the children espe
cay for those OF great city. casus' s rnahei
in daily paper describing the sys.el, "a on her
| arrested her attention ana impresseu oit , ~
m;nd the fact that much good might be accom-
| plished by its application. ,,, Hall q
Later. at meeting held IN Historleai ,'nm r,ada
member of the Chicago Board or Education iidue
an eloouent plea In behalf of this rational form
| OF education In regard 10 this. MIS- ChI,s.,dn
recently sad II was deeply ba, any nonid
| for n" Speaking Of her GIFT, she remarked: i
came to the conclusion that the grandest monu,
ment to my husband would be Kinuersal, nrn' ,e,'
| school az IL would be productive ana repro
dnrtive Of good In laying the foundation OF chil-
dren's education, physically. mentally ana spr-
| itually" .,, ,,.oras,od IN the
| 1iaaraarten Society that other gifts Will follow
th,s one and that thus the work Of placing the
chiidren OF the city In kindergarten schools may
| be greatly extended
INTEREST OF THE BOARD OF EDoCAii ii0->'
Another matter Of special interest to them al
the present time is the placing In the oudget OF
tba Roard Of Education this year OF an Item OF
81. 900 for the establishment and maintenance
Of kindergarten classes In the public scnoSis.
| The importance Of doing this has been repeateoIy
| rroed on the Board by Superintendent Wilham
n Maxwell in his annual reports. and IN tne re-
mort OF Mayor Schierens ADVISORY Soii,aitte Santtor