Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-11-05
SOME STUBBORN FACTS.
Results OF kindergarten Train
ing.
Another Glimpse Of the Kinder
Rarten.

Another Glimpse Of the Kinder
garten.
The RECORD cleaned the following
facts from Supt. Ely relative to the work
i'll Miss Chases room which may be of
interest to those whose children are of
kindergarten age.
In division G, the lowest one in the
first grade, there are forty-two pupils OF
whom twenty-four are unable to keep
up with the required work, and eighteen
do it easily. OF the eighteen, fourteen
have had kindergarten training. Two
Of the remaining four work under
peculiarly favorable conditions and the
other two are Older than the average.
Nineteen of the twenty four unable to
do the work have not had kindergarten
training. One Of the remaining five
who have had Kindergarten training is
naturally very slow; two are younger
than the average of even the youngest
division and two have attended, one,
twenty-six and half days, and the
possible forty two during which school
had been in session when we gathered
the facts. Another way of looking at
the same figures leads one to the same
conclusion as to the effect of the training.
Nineteen out of forty-two in the division
have had the Kindergarten work and
twenty. three have not OF the nineteen
who have, fourteen are able to do reason
able work and five fail for causes easily
determinable and entirely independent
OF the same. OF the twenty three, nine
teen and five, only under the most favor
able conditions, are able to do so. It's
needless to say that those in charge have
arranged separate work for these two
distinct groups Of children, and the work
fitted TO their needs. What their re-
spective conditions will be at the end of
three or five years ould be an interest
ing study but with constantly chang
ing population it is almost impossible to
determine.
III connection with the above state
ments made by Supt Ely, the reporter
thought it might be interesting to par
ents TO take another glimpse of the
Public kindergarten through the col
umns of the RECORD and to learn of the
work which the children are doing at
the present time.
Last week the children studied the
winter conditions of bugs and insects,
This week they are studying the winter
conditions of three of the larger animals,
the fox, muskrat and bear The study
of the muskrat was introduced Monday
morning in general way by Miss Potter,
who gave the children very interesting
little talk on that animal. The univer-
sal law underlying the study Of the
week is, provision suited to need
The work for next week will be the
study of the ingathering of grains. fruits
and vegetables, leading up to the Thanks
giving thought which will be dwelt on
more especially in the following weeks
before the day set apart as season of
national thanksgiving. A class in read
ing was formed Monday forenoon under
the direction of Miss Smith The class
is composed of the most advanced pupils.
The text book used is Werner's Primer,
which is gotten up on kindergarten
Principles.
Mrs, Plum informed the reporter that
the regular monthly meeting for mothers
was held in the kindergarten room last
Saturday afternoon, at which time she
explained to the mothers present the
work which their children are doing.
All mothers who have children in the
school should not fail to attend these
meetings.
Supt. Ely says; "Some may think
the work simple and of little value, but
when such results as those mentioned
above appear, and that within two
months after entrance upon school life,
it should surely tend to dispel such
belief. The scene in the kindergarten
room is one of great fascination. Ifyou
have little tot, droop in and see them.
If you have none, then that place affords
you the best opportunity to look at the
children of others"