New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-25

boy and GIRL and away they marched back to the
schoolroom. where Miss Van Derventer seated
them at little tables and began TO teach them
wonderful things with shining needles. coored
balls and cords and all manner of quaint and
fascinating looking gifts
This kindergarten Is under the supervision OF
the New-York kindergarten Association" said
Mrs. Barnes. In answer to the reporters inquiry;
more than twenty of these schools are scattered
throughout the city. and the amount OF good they
do Is not easily estimated. The children here are
those that gathered up in the neghborhood.
and they taught free of charge. During the
school year. beginning in the fall and closing in
June. regularly employed teachers paid by the
association in charge But during the summer
the work is carried by young teachers who
love their profession and who enjoy the training
without being paid During July Miss Minnie Van
Derventer. of my pupils has charge here. and
Miss Clarabel Wells another pupil, viii teach
during August. Both these young women have re-
, Gently finished their studies with me and VIII
make the kindergarten their lifework.
THE KINDERGARTEN COURSE.
How long does 1t take to fit your pupils for
teachers"
THAT depends upon what their training has
been before they come to me. IL their education
has been thorough, give them a years course:
If not it takes two years ! want them to have
standard and to be content with nothing that falls
short of it,
How long have you been engaged In kinder
garten work."
Since $50 ] consider it Indispensable training
for young children. When child is three years
old it likes TO play with other children If 1t is
physically strong. This compa nonship Is good,
provided 1t is directed by older head. Children
must he taught to play with each other in per-
ectly fair and honest way; strong sturdy children
must he trained to he consderate of smaller and
weaker ones. Companionship takes the concet
Of oh nd tpa
1t gives him later proper self-apprecia-
tion-makes him realize his own capabilities ana
teaches him self-criticisrn. All this is most i'm
portant knowledge to him.
There are few laws in the kindergarten; often
the children make their own laws and gov
erned by them. A little one will say to another;
You can't play with us unless you play fair and
are kind The great law of kindness-of personal
considcration-is soon recognized. a kindergarten
is an experimental station for children.
1.-THE various gifts complete in themselves
| and teach a child accuracy, surety and complete
ness. He knows that he accomplish certain
results with certain cubes blocks, cylinders. balls.
needles ana other kindergarten appliances.
THE bent of chlld's mind is quickly discovered
| In kindergarten training. His mother should visit
| the school and how he progresses and find out
what he likes best-what he most shows an apti-
| tude for. That knowledge should guide her in her
subsequent training.
A NATURAL SYSTEM
! "Kindergarten knowledge is natural knowledge;
| the child develops naturally and acquires his In
| format ton in a natural way. Ordinary schooling
! the dry detail OF arithmetic the alphabet spelling
| and grammar-is conventional knowledge. Every
| mind Is poured into the same educational mould.
| and so development Is artificial. Let the grow
| ing inquring mind of the young, unconventional
| child be first developed in unconventional nat
ural way. When school life really begins the child
| soon learns to know that certain routine work Is
necessary obtain necessary and desired result.
and he will make the effort to compass the task.
yet it is limited: only a certain result will come
! from the employment of certain materials The
| child quickly learns this and Is unconsciousy
! prohed by 1t.
Il wish you would emphasize this point; think
| every woman should take kindergarten work for
her own culture and training. Whether or not she
mOhr She T knST how TO 5e
n%, be help e and Gsssns G h IS bea
tf" I'e Experience to clasp little childs hand and
be taken into its honest. innocent heart and to be
| told its little confdng hopes and plans and be-
efs One feels stronger and better tier, for %,, It."
rs there any place IN w-forK lily "heFe
| kindergarten training Is free!
NORMAL COLLEGE RULES
"Only one place-the Normal College. And that
Is free only to its own normal students. Possibly
the bearer of a certificate from some other we'll
known normal institute might obtain entrance
there but am not certain. There are a number
Of schools where kindergarten training may be
had Those that l recall the Teachers
College Professor Felix Ader's Workingmen's
School No 100 West Fifty-fourth-st; Pratt In
sttute Brooklyn, Miss Jennie Hunters Training
School in One-hundred-and-twenty-s eventh-st.;
Mrs Krauss's Training Glass, at the San Reno
Hotel Eighth-ave. and Seventy-ffth-st.: Mrs Alice
Ell,man's Training School, on Broadway and FIFTY
eighth-st.. and my own training schooi at NO -
East Seventythird-st." - L.. ,,s.
what is the average yearly expense for kinder
e"Ahout 500 I think Those my terms"
Are there any new kindergarten movements III
the city now? - o. >,o,hod,st min
lister and the pastor of Cornell Memorial Cnurcni;
in East Seyenty-sixth-st, between Second ana
Tbrd.ave Is much Interested in child develop
menf and kindergarten work. His IDEA is 20 Keep
children and young people constantly occupies anu
Interested In something. and he mas inSututeu q
childrena choir In order TO make the little ones
feel personal interest In the religious services.
lie saws the church should be open TO its memnners
averv day and he has boys and girls readlng
ciuhs and various societies for the young peopie.
He Is now planning for kindergarten OK al 'e, ;u
ono hundred children and some or my pupiiiS WIZ
assist him in establishing 1t. He says ne VIII give
tho hest and most attractive rooms IN the churcn
N the kindergarten. and he hopes 70 nave d 'ui Be
school
ANOTHER CLERGYMAN INTERESTED.
1.-THE Rev Henry f. Stmson, formerly pastor OF
the broadway Tabernacle. believes in employing
kindergarten methods in the Sunday-schoo Fresi-
dent walter L. Hervey. Of the Teachers college,
also approves this, and wrote recent arucie III
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