The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-10-20
Annual Report of Free Kinder
garten and Aid Association.
on FIRNER FINANCIAL BASIS.
Encouraging Returns From Labor AMI Money
Expended Among Various Nationalities.
Calls for Extension AMI Consequent Calls
for Funds-changes Among Teachers.

Following is the annual report of tn
Free kindergarten and Children's Ait
Association OF the Hawaiian Islands
The Free Kindergarten is no Longer
an experiment in our city. 1t has come
10 be an acknowledged institution. II
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 OF
more Of happy kindergarten life Fur
Ihermore, the work is on a firmer basis
financially than ever before. Best OF
all, the interest taken in it by the AS
ISOLATION in charge has been unflag-
ging, and our friend, the public, has
proved its love for the children by
substantial tokens. Indeed. the work
could scarcely have gone forward with
out its aid
In spite of the cholera season a year
ago, which delayed the opening of the
kindergartens for a 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 a 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 I'M
selishness2
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
a 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
garten that is poorly conducted may
bring discridit on the whole system.
NNThrro hoo,. l.
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 its sessions amid many
difficulties. and with persevering toll
attained diplomas on February 18th.
The pretty graduating exercises were
al 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
ISOLATION 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 10 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 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 Associa-
ton mourns her loss, and would add
its tribute TO the many others paid
her name.
Ii was in February also that our
hearts were gladdened by the endow-
ment of 5000 year from the benevo-
lent kamaaina, Hon. Charles R. Bishop
which. in accordance with his ex-
pressed wish, we devoted to the main
tanning of the Hawaiian Kindergar-
ten. AS a mark of our appreciation of
his generosity, Mr.. Bishop was made
an honorary member of the Associa-
ton.
We have other deeds of bounty to
record. In February Mr.. and Mrs. Du-
mas gave as their contribution twenty
handsome little chairs TO the Foreign
kindergarten, conditioned on an equal
number being supplied by others. Pa
rents of children in private kinder
garten added the money to furnish the
other twenty requisite. l am glad to
state that Mr. and Mrs Dumas have
this year pledged half the money ne
eessary 10 supply the Portuguese room
with these little chairs, and a well
known firm has the refusal of the priv
ilege of paying for the other half. One
Of our officers kindly gave her Thurs
day mornings for a considerable pc
riod to playing for the kindergartens
which would otherwise have Jared i'll
for music. Another helped in the sing
ing in the japanese Kindergarten in
the spring. To Mrs. McStocker the
children are indebted for a large wood
an swing which hos hnpn cot nm in