The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-19
Annual Report of Free Kinder
garten and Aid Association.
ON FIRMER FINANCIAL BASIS.
Encouraging Returns From Labor and Money
Expended Among Various Nationalities.
Calls for Extension and Consequent Calls
for Funds-Changes Among Teachers.

| Following is the annual report of the
! Free kindergarten and Childrens Aid
Association of the Hawaiian Islands:
! The Free Kindergarten is no longer
an experiment in our city. 1t has come
to be an acknowledged institution. In
June it closed two years of faithful
work, and showed a corps of graduate
teachers and scores of children whose
helpful influence attested a year or
more of happy kindergarten life. Fur
| thermOre, the work is on a f1rmer basis
financially than ever before. Best of
all, the interest taken in it by the As
sociation in charge has been unfiag
ging, and our friend, the public, has
proved it's love for the children by
substantial tokens. Indeed, the work
could scarcely have gone forward with
out it's aid.
In spite of the cholera season year
ago, which delayed the opening of the
kindergartens for month; in spite of
whooping cough and measles and the
rain which reduced and even decimat-
ed the attendance at times; in spite of
every pilikia, the year has been good
one to record.
The five regular kindergartens have
been under the care of the Association.
Besides these, some help has been
given to the little Maemae school on
Wyllie street, which was opened and
maintained by ladies in the vicinity.
Including this school, then, three hun
dred children have been enrolled in the
free kindergartens this year, while two
hundred and more have been regular
attendants. Three hundred little lives
gladdened by the sunny atmosphere of
the kindergarten. Who can tell what
good has been accomplished in the
homes of these children who have been
trained in courtesy neatness and un-
seIfishness?
The great advantage of Froebel's
system is that it paves the way to the
school. 1t fills the restless years be-
fore six, the school age, with plays and
occupations that are not merely ran
dom efforts at amusement. Each one is
carefully graded piece in a mosaic of
knowledge A child never works so
hard as when, he is playing with all
his might. The kindergarten realizes
this truth and builds on it, and through
well directed play gradually evolves
order, punctuality, obedience, concen-
tration and perseverance. If teachers
in the primary grades who receive the
children from the kindergartens disre
gard the play principle, of course they
find the kindergarten faulty. A kinder
=
bring discridit on the whole system.
When you hear the kindergarten at
tackled, consider the experience of the
one who makes the attack, and judge
accordingly. If there are rational COM
plants, as there are, let us consider
them and study to improve.
The training class under Miss East
man continued it's sessions amid many
difficulties, and with persevering toll
attained diplomas on February 18th.
The pretty graduating exercises were
at Queen Emma Hall, the kindergarten
Headquarters The songs and essays
of the class were enjoyed by the at
tentive audience, while the exhibition
of handiwork of the graduates ELECTED
words of surprise and delight. The AS
sociation has reason to appreciate the
efforts of the class and of its director.
Miss Eastman left Honolulu to enter
again upon the work in San Francisco
which she gave up to come to us. Fur
thermore, her former position was
open to her, and the good wishes of
the Association and her many friends
followed her in her chosen work.
The young women of the training
class were granted a weeks vacation
after graduating, and were doubtless
glad of the rest after their long days
of busy hours.
In February we received a generous
gift from Miss Field, half the proceeds
of her lecture on Charles Dickens.
Dear Kate Field! AS her pathOs stir
red us as she described Dickens burial,
little did we dream that we should so
soon attend her own. She proved her
self the friend of this country, OF chill
dren and parents alike. Our Assoc1a-
ton mourns her loss, and would add