The herald., 1897-12-25
!; CHRISTMAS IN THE SCHOOLS :


In the twenty-sx days to be specially
observed in the public school year, as
advised in the general order OF the city
superintendent. Christmas holds a prom
inent place. Teachers and pupils in
every school in the city enter enthusias-
tically into the spirit OF the season and
make the preceding day one to be re-
membered in the retrospect of mature
years.
ut is wonderful what children will ac-
conplish from 3 o'clock to 81 said one
of the teachers yesterday. whose room
was beautifully decorated. My great
est labor was to keep them busy, they
worked so fast
All that many poor little lad and
lassie know of Christmas is what the
teacher provides for them at school.
1t is well known that a rule of the
board of education prohibits teachers
accepting gifts of any description from
pupils and pupils from teachers except
In the kindergarten department, where
this rule is relaxed. This does not pre-
vent them, however, from exercising
their talents on decorations. trimming
lovely trees, nor from having a jolly
time with their Christmas exercises.
In most of the llndergartens the
Christmas celebration was held yester-
day morning, and the exercises were all
of the same general character. The chill
dren sang their songs, had their games
for the season, and then there was dis
tribution of stockings. pals or some
other contrivance, filled with candy,
nuts and the always toothsome popcorn.
In most schools there were large trees,
and in several a cotton covered Santa
Claus, who distributed the presents and
made fun for the youngsters. Not the
least important of the big trees fruit
were the kindergarten gifts made by
small fingers for parents, friends, the
janitor and often the superintendent.
In the Castelar-street kindergarten
the teachers. Misses Todd and Torrey,
arranged screen of pepper boughs and
hung the fruit and candy in it, The little
folks shot at what they wished most
with bow and arrow, which never failed
to bring down the object aimed at. A
Santa Claus went through all the rooms
of the building and surprised the pupils
in the grammar grades with bags of
popcorn prepared by the girls in room
4, taught by Mr.. Malett. Literary eXer-
cises, consisting of songs and recitations,
were held in all the rooms in the build
ing.
The kindergarten teachers generally
made a special effort to render the small
people in their care happy, and they
seemed to be eminently successful, judg-
ing by the bright faces clustered around
the room.
The decorations and Christmas prep
arations at the Breed street school
were especially elaborate and lovely.
The blackboards around the rooms were
filled with pictures in colored crayons,
which We're designed to illustrate the
songs, recitations and dialogues of the
literary exercises, and We're surprisingly
we'll done. Pictures of Santa Claus in
his reindeer sleigh. brownies, Christ
mas bells and gorgeous flowers were
abundant and spirited.
Mrs. Henrys room was mass of
foliage and flowers. tastefully arranged,
in which wax candles We're concealed.
The room was darkened and the candles
lighted while the program was rem
dered. Miss Putnam and Mrs Maddern
had beautiful trees, lighted by tapers,
with character recitations and dialogues
III costume. Inc rooms We're ali elabO-
rately decorated with holly, ivy, smiax
and flowers, and We're lovely throughout.
Crayon drawings We're an especial fea-
ture in all, exceptionally well done.
In three of the schools flag raisings
We're combined with the Christmas OBJ
servance. At Tenth street Captain j.
A. Osgood delivered the address, and a
candle drill placing tapers on the tree,
with exceptionally good recitations,
formed part of the program.
The First street school also raised a
new flag, accompanied by an interest
ing and we'll rendered program. Fine
exercises were a part of the flag raising
at the Cambria street school, with beau
tiful decorations and marching by the
go pupils. In each instance the flag
was purchased by the pupils and pre-
sented to the school, making a happy
combination of patriotism and Christ
mas cheer, in this, the gift giving season.
The schools will be closed until the Mon
day after New Years day.
-,p-,-ar-