St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-23
THE CHILDREN RECEIVING CARE
WHICH THEY MIGHT OTHER
WISE NOT HAVE.
SAVES THEM FROM THE STREETS.
Right Direction Not to Be
DeSpiSed.

kindergartenS, has caused a good deal
OF talk among parents who read the
newspapers and whose children are lay
ing the foundation for an education,
limited or otherwise, in the kindergar-
ten schools of st. Paul. There is not
one of them who does not seem to agree
with the G o b in demanding that,
il necessary at ALL the '1opping-on pro-
cess begin at the top, and not at the
bottom" To those at present familiar
with the benefits of kindergarten work,
the proposition to do away with juven-
lie instruction becomes serious, not to
mention the injustice which it is
claimed such a step involves. Those
who do not know by experience readily
fall into the same way of thinking as
soon as they give any attention to the
subject. The good work being done
by the kindergartens of st. Paul is
doubtless not fully appreciated by the
majority of people of the city. Inquiry
into the actual and practical attain
mentS shows gratifying results. They
are admittedly the schools of the peo-
pie, and their adjustment would be
lIeenly felt
There are kindergarten departments
in thirty of the public schools of the
city, most of which have two daily
sessions and are crowded for rooms
SO there can be no doubt as to their
popularity, and it is safe to state that
very large majority of ST. Paul chill
dren between the ages of five and six
years are enrolled with these schools
Their advantages are certainly appre-
clated by the parents.
With those who are not closely in
70 tIo
opinion that the kindergartens are
more upon the plan Of nurseries than
of schools. But no impression could
be more erroneous than this one.
From the very first day the child en-
tiers it is taught something that ap-
plies directly upon it's subsequent
schooling and will be of Service to it in
of inestimab value; toethose who can
get but two or three years of school,
and there are many more of those
in the city than there are stu
dents ia the high school
A G 10 b e reporter visited the kin
dergarten department of the Webster
school, on st. Anthony HILL and what
was found there exists the same in all
the other schools where kindergarten
departments are maintained The pri-
mary aim is to fit the pupil for the
primary work. Games, songs and eX-
erc1ses are given, which stimulate the
faculties of observation, concentra ton,
memory and Imagination The phys
zeal exercise develops and trains the
hand so that the task of learning to
write is very. easy. Then there are
games and pastimes which give in
strUction IN the simpler scientific laws.
As the different holidays come instruc-
ton Is given with reference to them
which acquaintSs the pupil with refer
ence to history and also the promi-
nent historical characters With all
this, care is given to the moral in
stincts and when the child has COM
pleted the years work it has had
very valuable foretaste of the COM
mon branches of education
At the Madison school the reporter
was shown samples of writing done by
pupils who had only been out of the
kindergarten two weeks. The writing
was quite legible and the sentences of
considerable length. Some very credit
able drawings were also shown of
scenes connected with the home life Of
Washington. At the present time the
attention is turned toward that great
character and feelings Of patriotism
are inspired.
The years work is divided into four
parts. The first relates to the home
the second to the trades, the third to
the state, and the fourth to morals
These are so arranged that there is a
gradual evolution, the first topic COM
ing when the pupil first leaves the
home, the second follows in the discus
sion of the needs for the home, the
third comes at the time of the birthday
anniversaries of Lincoln and Washing
ton, and the last comes when spring
life is returning and opportunities are
the best for the study Of nature.
Perhaps the most beneficial results
come from schools like the Lafayette
or Rice, which are located among the
poorer class of people. In those dis
tricts the kindergarten is a great factor
In moral and religious instruction: in
TACT, 1t affords to the majority of chill
dren the only opportunity for training
in that direction and holds such a
healthful influence over the little ones
and brings such a change into their
lives that the parents see the beauties
and benefits of morality and education
and refinement, and are themselves i'm
proved thereby. In these communi-
ties the kindergarten is as good
leaven, and its influence Is of such i'm
portance that all advocates of better
citizenship can Ill afford to see it abol-
ished. The children, who would other
wise spend much of their time upon
the streets, are placed under helpful
care.
The parents. in these parts of the
city, must work early and late, and
Whatever instruction the children get
must be received in the schools. A
very commendable feature is the fact
that they are taken before they are old
enough to be put to work. Many boys
and girls, when they reach six years.
are sent out by the parents to sell
papers, black boots and do other work
Which keeps, them upon the crowded
streets. At such occupation the in
Huence is all for evil and the first steD
In the direction of lawIessness and
crime is taken. But the Kindergarten
fortunately opens its doors to children
five years of age and thus one year of
moral and mental training is given
them before they are thrown out upon
the world. But the work is SO attrac-
tive that all desire to continue their
educational pursuits and many are al
lowed to remain in school, receiving all
the benefits thereof, who would other
wise become waits and vagabonds.
Thus it is that the kindergarten
holds position that cannot be filed
by any other institution or rganiza-
ZION. children who would otherwise go
INTO the world in perfect ignorance and
blind to many of the beauties that are
given a start in the right direction and
receive am awakening to the benefits
and pleasures of education; faculties
that might lie dormant throughout
their lives are aroused, and the seeds
OF patriotism and the love of God and
nature and humanity are sown.
The kindergarten department of the
Lafayette school, in West ST. Paul is
an excellent place to study the work
as applied to the poorer class of people.
and a visit there would pay any one
interested in the question now at stake.
In this school nearly one-half the