Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-11-12
THE FREE KINDERGARTEN.
II Makes a Lasting Impression for Good
on the Children---S35O Given for
MAINTENANCE of the School.

1t is, perhaps, not fully known that we
really have such an institution fairly start
ed among us, and it may be that the i'm
portance of the work done in the kinder
garten is little understood by the general
public: and in passing, / would say that in
many cities and towns in Massachusetts it
is positively required that before any schol-
airs can enter the public schools they must
first have been at least one year in kin
dergarten school, so important do they
consider ii for the welfare both of the
child and the state.
Our ladies began in a small way in 1896
on Elliot street, and had school of y or
10, and so much good was accomplished
even TO this limited number that 1t was
really remarkable and it was so fully ap-
parent that 1t was one of the needed things
for Brattleboro, that our ladies were sure
that they ought to continue it. And so
again the school is under way in the same
room on Elliot street and under the care
of the same teacher, Miss Young, whom
the ladies and all who know her feel con-
fident that they could have made no better
choice. Hardly was the school opened be
fore there came to them some 80 pupils, or
some three times as many as the year be-
fore. These children are mostly from
three to four years old. They are cared
for until noon, thus giving relief TO some
mother, tired and worn and needing this
rest; relieving another SO that she may
comfortably care for her necessary fore
noon work; or again enabling another to
60 out and earn something for the sup
port OF the family. This is but one side of
this work and is of itself in the line of
practical Christianity.
But the beauty of this grand charity is
on the child's side. They take these little
ones and if not neat they are soon taught
that they must be; IL rude or noisy they
| soon learn that this is not the best way;
and in many ways, beside the regular rou-
| tine of the school, are so brought under the
influence of love and care that at any time
one can go in and find beautiful class of
well behaved little children. Children
taken at the age of three TO five are at an
age keenly sensitive to all external in
| fuences, both bad and good, as every OBJ
serving parent knows, often learning to be
very profane or lewd in their talk when
| they have no real consciousness of the
wrong. Taken from such influences and
the hearing of so much that is corrupting
into an atmosphere of sympathy and help
| fulness, no one can doubt the wonderful
change that is wrought in their young
minds, being guided so lovingly and per
sistently into ways that are right, rather
than be allowed to drift in the opposite di-
rection. In fact the good done in schools
of this kind is far beyond any estimate in
dollars and cents, reaching forward as it
does, not only to childhood aud youth, but
TO the man and citizen. Surely no grand
er or more beautiful work is given unto us
to do.
1t is very gratifying that our citizens
have come nobly to the aid of the ladies in
this work, enough money having been Civ
en- them to enable them to nearly, if not
fully, pay the expenses of the kindergarten
until May or June next. The sum so far
given is about $3.50. c. F.. 7.