New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-19
MONEY FOR KINDERGARTENS.
THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE ASKED TO AP-
PROPRIATE $4,000.
CHARLES N. CHADWICK EXPLAINS HOW KIN
DERGARTENs CAN BE INTRODUCED IN TIE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN AN INTEIL,l-
GENT MANNER.


One of the items in the budget Of the Board OF
Education that will attract the special attention o'
educators when 1t is taken up for consideration by
the Board of Estimate Is that providing an appIo-
,r,o,,o, ~ 40 mo for the establishment ana main
tenance of klndergartens in connection WIN INC
public schools. 1t placed In the puget 'nouei
the efforts of Frank L. Babbott. a recently aPpoin'
ed member OF the Board Of Educatloh' VINO ma
been specally interested in the work Of establishing
free kindergartens in the city and mas oeeh P'e''
dent Of the BROOKLYN Free kindergarten Society
ever since it was organized at the Pratt institute
about five years ago.
When the educational budget Is taken up a strong
effort will be made induce the Board OF Estimate
TO allow this modest appropriation for most
worthy cause One of the citizens OF brooklyn VINO
g., anx,ops 70 see il 90 through is Charles n. Chad
wick q weIl-known member of the Manufacturers
Association who has been chairman for seVeral
wears of the General Committee of the kindergarten
Association.
MR. CHADWICK'S VIEWS.
c,aoking I'm reference 10 this matter yesterday.
Mr. Chadwick said: IL very glad, indeed 10
see a few days ago that the Board OF Education hau
made a requistion on the city for SiAV" ioI '"e
establishment Of kindergarten Schools anu nopo
the Board of Estimate will see its way clear 70
allowing IT, know that the Board OF Esuina'e WIN
find itself under the necessity Of applying the khiie
vigorously In view OF the large demands mace by
the different departments, while on the o'her manu-
IT is strictly limited TO the total amour. WHICH
can be allowed all the expenses or the city gov
eminent stu l hope 1t will consent to grant d
small sum to enable Brooklyn to take Its place sde
by side with progressive cities IN estaonsn"e
kindereartens In connection with the pubic schoOl
system For myself do not believe IN peeiiihe
this work on large scale. An exceileh' "orNie
plan was outlined In a communication sent by TIC
Kindergarten Association year ago last lal 10
pointed by Mayor Schieren, which proposed 10 re-
organize our public school system and mace num-
Der of important recommendations IN us iepo'"
that, unfortunately, were not adopted
Mr. Chadwick produced a copy of the memorial
sent TO the Mayors committee on behalf OF the
Kindergarten Association. and called speclai at
,ention to the most important parts OF II as bearing
on the question soon to come before the Board OF
Estimate The memorial prepared by com
mjttee consisting of Mr.. Chadwick, Frank L. Bah
bott and Mss Caroline b. lie Row.
THE KINDERGARTEN PHILOSOPHY.
The par;s which Mr. Chadwick specially wished to
emnhasize and which he said he would be glad to
have brought 10 the attention OF every member Vi
the Board of Estimate. are as follows:
The strongest reasons for the introduction OF me
kinderrarien into the public school are that the
LinSerearten philosophy furnishes the only scienuhc
orm Of education ana can me he S sssc U based
citizen Is being made when the chlu Is III
,aught to adjust himself to his environment; when
ne learns to practise honor ana 5usnee 20
himself. and to reverence the true the beautiful
and the good. . - -. .A 1,aaroor,or
when added the already enormous GO cost OF the
public school system bears %ithin seil not the
amount expended but the result attained Inc
social condition OF large cities is one upon which
existing appliances make little impression. and 1t
is the profound conviction of this committee that
the kindergarten is not only the most economical
but the most rational and effective system Of educa-
ton because 4 deals with the child in the
Tor the end will for itself for the child Of to-
day is the man and the citizen Of tomorrow TOW
one public School be selected whose principal and
gSrten and are willing to recognize the related
position OF the kindergarten to the primary depart
inent The selection of one school building in which
to make a beginning meets the objection of ex-
The selection of trained teachers will meet the
second objection provided that no class shall have
hs pea D es in ths adaptation of the
primary grades to the altered conditions required
has been successfully worked out in other schools,
and need present no insurmountabe difficulties IL
cipes be carried on into the upper classes There
should be no abrupt change from the kindergarten ten
one must be slowly and carefully merged into the
gently taken out Of the freedom Of the kndergaen
and without break be placed under the restraint
@en aV Of poWes or oss Of viii be developed ys
nS p aqd M Under ne The cN
Trolling influence q the kndergarten spirit: This
kindergarten into tho public school system.
The proper and logical manner of the introduction
would be TO start With ne kadegarten and add de-
ton of expense as Its operation would mean a
change and adaptation would perhaps be better. as
II certainly would be quicker. although II would
prove 70 be more eompca,ed and open to Griticsm
one best TO be considered.
HOW TO CARRY ON THE WORK
Therefore, the recommendation in brief is as
follows: ..,'-I
Ffrst-Make a beginning with one school,
Second-Reduce the number OF scholars to each
teacher TO maximum of thirty in every grade in
Third-Select principal and teachers from those
who sympathize with the plan ana for the primary
department require teachers trained In both Kinder
garten and primary methods.
Fourth-Place the kindergarten ana The primary de-
principal, who must be trained in both methods
Fffth-Select a sunny room for the kindergarten,
scholars Of any kind. Personal not relative: ca.
should be based entirely upon the scholars faith
fulness in the work Of the school, and promotions
seSeatS@Modify the curriculum of the upper
classes slowly to meet the new conditions The first
from pressure relief to both scholars and teacher
when the size OF the class was reduced to thirty.
spirit of the kindergarten entering into and
ing. the relations OF teacher, and scholar Slowly
class rising yesr aft after
would be done step by STEP wisely n and well
adxssnsed classes ss the Individual development Begun
In the kindergarten. and TO unity the whole work,
30 that kindergarten principles shall underle all
grades.
WHAT THE KINDERGARTEN SOCIETY HAS
DONE.