The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-15

oluce the NUMBER
Of children has been increased to
sixty. must have noticed the crowded con-
dit!on Of the little ones, while engaged n
their exercises upon the ring.
To obvtaze this. and In many other wayD
TO increase ths possibilities Of the build
ing. Miss creeiman proposed that ~ soon
as the funcs OF the association justified Il,
large room should be finished in the base
ment OF the building. -Four months ago
the obstacles IN the way Of such an I'm
prorement seemed very great. but spe-
c.ai fund was started at once. and In spIte
OF all seeming difficulties this fund has
grown steadily until now II amounts to
over So This win cover the cost Of the
labor upon the new room. There VIII. how
ever, be other expenses connected with
the finishing and furnishing OF the room
that must be met, so that work upon this
fund will continue
The flooring for the room has been kind
~ donated by Mr.. Fred stimson. large
amount of lumber has been sent By Mr..
Campbell. of the Pert Blakeley mills and
other necessary lumber was given by Mr..
Kerry. Hardware and other materials
are furnished by J. S. Goldsmith. Of schwa-
bacher Bros.
committee from the board of trustees
met the board of education recently and re-
ceved its very cordial consent TO the pro-
posed Improvement upon the property. The
use Of the building and grounds was at
that same meeting very cheerfully extend
ed to the association for an indefinite Pc
riod. There was also expressed at that
meeting hearty approval of the associa-
tons work. which was very encouraging
1t is the sincere desire Of the officers OF
the association and of Miss Ellen Creel-
man. the principal. to make the work edu-
cational in the best sense Of the word. The
growth OF such work. to be healthy, must
be gradual and natural The funds Of the
association suffer in common with all other
business projects at present. 1t has been
fortunate to be able to meet all expenses
and still have a small surplus In the treas
ury each month, but there has not been
sufficient financial encouragement to start
other schools on a proper basis. neither
would II be advisable to do so until 1t has
completed what has been SO well begun In
tho building on Main street.
This institution will probably always be
headquarters for the training school, All
pupils will be expected to get some months
az least of their practical experience at
this kindergarten. however many schools
the association may establish In the fu-
ture- Also the public will visit this kinder
garten AND receive their ideas concerning
Froebel's methods OF education from what
they see there, and when the time comes
for the board OF education to adopt the
kindergarten they VIII look to this assocta-
ton TO furnish worthy illustrations of the
practical application OF Froebels prin-
ciples. and from an investigation of the
work done at the Main street school VIII
conclude that the results of such teaching
cannot fail TO be OF great assistance in
the work Of education.
With these facts in view II should be the
aim of those truly interested In this cause
TO concentrate their efforts upon this In
stitution until the opportunities offered by
the building and grounds are to some e.
tent. at least. made use OF. At small ex-
pense the grounds about the building
might be planted In flowers. small fruits
and vegetables. Already two or three
dozen berry bushes and strawberry slips
have been planted. A small bed is ready
for a few vegetables. which the children
will cultivate. with the help Of the pupil
teacher. ADimal life should also be
brought into the .lpc3 :: children. and one
or two Dummies. a hen with her chicks. .
kitten and a nice old dog would be amin
tere5ting addition. These additions would
make it an ideal child garden, and an fin
stitution that will have interest not only
for Seattle people. but those interested in
the work from neighboring towns.