Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-04-23

gotten. predecessor. refer to Robert
owen: say. predecessor owen was born
IN l7N2 and died tn l>52 owens first infant
school was opened IN lSlG Froehels first
faet that owen infant school preceded
Froehels by twenty years does not de-
tract from the merit OF FroHbeL Yet to all
who are interested tn this wonderful sys-
tenn OF ,hild education which is now so
generally presented 10 the world as Froe-
hers an account OF what Robert owen ala
first kindergarten OF Froobsl cannot but be
int'festinE t. 70 do justice to the mem
services rendered by him IN the cause OF
children, q man now generally forgotten or
en9rsR Pnt haNe pffr9r}e5 ms sbanl imlptr df
which any record exists.
Robert owens Life.
"nefore giving ain account Of owens
school it may DE proper 10 outline briefly
his life. lie was born In Newton, an En-
rreeocous IN mind, with great fonlness
Tor reading At this early axe he went to
I.ondcn to seek his fortune. and soon got a
he was treated as the child OF the propric-
tor, and where he remained four years.
Al - hc entered a drapcr's establishment
in London and soon after into similar
shop m Manchester. At u he left this last
shop and began manufacturing spinning
machinery In a small way, ~ " ne hegan
spinning cotton, and the next year iouni
him the manager of the Drinkwatcr estab-
lshment in Manchester, tho largest cotton
spinning plant OF It's kind In the world.
IN three years hc left this establishment rs
manager and, Joining others ns partners,
b. built the Charlton twist works. lie was
AT tho age Of .3 known over England and
| scotland as the first cotton spinner OF the
realm. -,
water establishment. being then ~ years
old his ambition turned from cotton spin
ming and money making o. an end or on-
ioTt Of his activity, and thereafter he oniN
considered them tho means hy which he
might improve the condition OF the work
rrs i'm faDtorles and their families. In one
OF his trips 20 Scotland hc visited the
| mills at the small village OF New l.nhark'
distant about thirty miles from iIasgoW'
claimed OF all the places ] have Yet seen
! / should prefer this in which 70 irN an eN1
| have wished TO have an opportunity to put
.'he soon enlisted capital TO buy these
| mills 40 the price ~ 10000, and IN the year
| Ivl ho entered upon their manage mgnt
| The mills pruspcrrd from IN" hrst IN
workers IN the mills were lnrsey iile. in
| temperate, dishonest and generally a yas-
/ abuu4 ami brutal population. At the Sew
/ l.auark mill. there were EenerallN =" 70
rous parishes and hound over To the fac
| tory. They were only 20 10 years OF axe,
| Iay. ana were hopeei with leather straps
/ They were brutally treated, III fed, III
! clothed and uuIustruetod,
owens Enriy discovery.
/ "owcn at % years oS age had discovered.
! as ha EXPRESSED it, that mans character
| Is formed tor hm anl not by himself'
ami that his environment AMI not the man
| Is TO blame for The defects Of his char
/ aatsr ITr at once. diverted all earnings OF
Nh. MILLS over PR cent to hullllhS
schools started Gco,,on,"r9tiye, or nrIi-
| meut and threatening language towards
! eh,ldren, shouensa hours 9t labor ana
/ ana purtn,I tho manners and morals OF
/ lhis community pt about =.tt1 people that
! .t became me wonder 4 Elrop5g' and Tas
| visited uy th. representative or ne rulers
| uf most European nations. Passing over
| many other acts worthy Of mention am
/ .u l.l5 Including an the children from -
/ years Of age iH the village. Let owen
/ give mo account IN his own language:
90 N vas iu vain TO look t9 any of the old
/ tea hers upon the old system Of instruc-
/ lion ty books. IN the previous sehoolr2om
/ ms views, but he could not and woud not
/ attempt % adopt what he deemed such a
/ fauc.fuI new tangled mole Of teaching
| and he was completely ungtr the lnnnrA.t
/ III the minister of the parish, who was
/ himself also opposed 10 any change Of sys-
/ tom IN teaching children ana VINO ,uhSlI J.
/ cred that the attempt 90 educate and teach
/ infants VAS altggether senseless anu VAIN
/ proceeding ] hal, therefore. To part "ith
/ him and ] had 10 seek among the popula-
/ tiuu for Two persons who had great love
! for and unlimited patience with infants,
/ and wbo were thoroughly tractabl- and
/ willing unrr--Fy~ily TO follow my instrur-
| flgf- Tho bast 10 my mind. IN these re-
| ~ ~. yiilare was a poor, simpIe-heartsd
/ weaver. namtI James Buchanan. who had
/ feet Submission 10 her Will ana who could
| gain but a scanty living by his nov op-
| t1ttoH goods hy hand. But he loved chill
/ lrrn strongly hN nature, and his patience
| with them was ineHhausuhle These, "llh
! his willingness to be Instructed, we're lhe
I qualities which | required IN the master
| of the first rational infant school that had
| ever been Imagined II an! part OF any
Rational Infant school.
Thus the kind-hearted James Buchan-
! au who az first could scarcely read, write
or sneu became the hrst master OF a
| young. also required = female nurse 10
assist the master and one also who pos
su.h a ore / found among the numerous
! young females employed IN the cottoh
mills ana ! Was fortunate i4 ln ir. hi.ilhs y,
age. known familiarIy among the village
ery as Mpllie Young, who oi the Two, ~
over her ue@ companion IN an oiilce per
! fectly uew 10 both
"Fhe first instruction which | gave
them was. that they were on no account
| aver to beat any one Of the chihlTvn or u
| threaten them In any manner in word OF
| action or to use abusive terms; but were
always to speak 10 them with a pleasant
eountenanee, anI in a kind manher, and and
| infants ana children uor they had all from
| ] TO years old under their charge
| tHdE lleN must on all pteas41A4z ~ al
thcy could to make their play-felloNs
| happy, and that the older ones, from 4
| . years of age. should take especial ears
| Of the younger ones and assist 70 teach
them 10 make each other happy.
! " The children were not 70 be annoyed
With books. but were 70 be taught the
| uses and nature or qualities Of common
| things around them By familiar conver'
sation when the chlldren's curiosity wa'
| excited so as to induce them TO ask queS'
! tons respecting them
f" The schoolroom vas furnished viii
| uaintings chienys Of animals with maps
| ana often supplied with natural objects
| from the gardens, fields and woods. tbs
| examination and explanation Of which al
| Ways excited their curiosity and created al
| animated conversation between the chill
dren and their instructors now themselve.
acquiring new kno%leage hy attempiins e
| taught them to think their pupils wer'
| and to treat them as such;
AFTER some short time they were unlik