The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-18
THE FREE KINDERGARTEN
GRIDUATING ENERCISES OF THE
 TR1INING DEP1RTMENT.

Welcome Hall Filled With the Friends of
 the Class and the Associatlon-Seven
 Young Ladies Received Diplomas,
 The graduating exercises of the Elm City Free Kindergarten association was held yesterday afternoon in Welcome hall at is Oak street in the presence of a large number of the members of the association, its friends and invited guests of the young ladies who have completed the course under the direc- tion of Miss Rachel King, the principal of the school.
 Prayer was made by the Rev. Edwin $. Poteat of the Calvary Baptist church, after which the Mothers Hymn" was sung by the members of the graduating class.
 The first essay read was by Miss M. E. Baldwin of Waterbury, the subject being the Fundamental Principles of the Kindergarten"
 It was bright presentation of the underlying tenets of the work which has worked revolution in the methods of instructing the very young. Miss BaldWin's paper, which was well re- ceived, was followed by another song rearranged by the same young lady and entitled Waiting to Grow"
 "Froebel's Gifts" was the subject of an instructive illustrated paper by Miss Florence Pardee, who is a teacher in the New Haven public schools.
 Miss Pardee is an enthusiastic student of the system of the great teacher and her explanation of the importance and effect of the gifts" upon the education of the children of the present genera ton was listened to with much interest.
 An Original Story" told and illus trated by Miss Emma Mills of Ulster, Penn., was one of the most entertaining numbers on the program.
 "F'roebePs Occupations" was present. ed by Miss Catherine Atwater of this city. After this trade games, "The Car penter and Shoemaker" was given by the class. This is a "calisthenic" and it was explained by Miss King that it was intended for children, but it was a principle of kindergarten work never to place children where they would be embarrassed and the audience would have to imagine the young ladies were composed juveniles. The song was well rendered and ap- preciated by all.
 The song of the season was next given.
 An intermission of fifteen minutes was given for the audience to examine 1 the work done by the class and the ob- | iects used in the practical work of the school
 l Upon the reassembling of the audi ! ence Miss Bertha M. Alling of West vile gave Patriotism in the Kinder garten," which was followed by "A Day in the Kindergarten.,,'
 What the Kindergarten Does for the Adult" by Miss Violet May Hotchkiss teacher in Winchester school, was ar l excellent paper.
 This was followed by the class song | by Miss Baldwin. The music was com | posed by Miss Pardee, who sang the solo part, assisted by Misses Hotchkiss Potter and Pratt. The words are:
 "A book we find wide open | To every one most free
 It is the book of Nature | And teaches us of Thee.' | "Together we have studied | This wondrous book of Thine
 And traced in all it's pages l Marks of the Hand Divine"
 "The lessons of the spring timt Taught us by bird and flower,
 The busy bees and insects
 That hover OCT each bower" | ''The joys of peaceful summer
 In many a happy hour, The myriad hues of autumn
 Show Thine Almighty Power"
 "So hand in hand with nature
 Body and soul to free We're leading back the children
 Oh Father! unto Thee"
 At the close of the song Superintend ent Kendall of the New Haven publi schools was introduced and presented the young ladies with diplomas, takini the opportunity to express his commen
 dation of the work that is now bein' done by the association among the poo children, and in support of the systen as the foundation of the common schoo
 education.
 The following young ladies compos
 the graduating class: Miss Florenc
 Pardee New Haven; Miss Violet Ma
 Hotchkiss, New Haven; Miss M. E
 Baldwin, Waterbury; Miss Edith Det
 tra, Ulster, Penn; Miss Emma Mills
 Ulster, Penn; Miss Catherine AtWatel
 New Haven; Miss Bertha M. Allin&
 Westville
 l