Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16
Value Of the kindergarten System in
the District.
ESTIMATE FOR an APPROPRIATION
Sketch Of the Hooper School in
South Washington.
URGENT NEED OF FUNDS

o' INTEREST IS attached to the item in
,he estimates for an appropriation for kin
oersartens IN the District. Superintendent
Powell. 1t is stated. will bend every effort
10 nave the Sl2.OOO, which is thought SUI
hclent, and named in the bill, secured for
this purpose With this sum, it is thought,
a school can be established in each of the
eleven districts.
There are at present a number of kinder
sartens in the city, some of which are SUD-
ported wholly by charity. OF the latter
there are eight or ten schools supported by
a few individuals. Two are supported by
Mrs. Phoebe Hearst
One of the most noteworthy of the char
lily kindergartens is what is known as the
Hooper School, esta blished by Miss Mary
Hooper, who has for twenty years been en-
gagged in Kindergarten work The Hooper
school is located in the hall at Az and G
streets southwest and has been productive
of the greatest amount of good to parents
and children.
System In Boston.
TIE organizer of the school was assoc,-
ated with Mrs. Quincy Shaw in Boston.
MIS-. ShaWS work was begun in that CITY
as CHARITY for the reScuing of children
from the cutters. The work was carried
on until Its necessity was recognized by the
city, and the kindergarten was made the
basis OF prbl-c schools. Kindergartens were
establiShed there in connection with the
pubic schools years ago
Inc Hooper School has from the begin
ming relied more upon general support tina n
any Of the others. 1t is well known and ia
approved by Supe rintendent Powell and Dr
Whitman of Columbian University. 1t has
recently lost generous supporter through
the death of one of the foremost citizens of
he lnaI
utOrs OF the school have been Mr. Gardiner
G. Hubbard, F. c. Stevens, Judge H. r.
Brown, Mr.. Marcus Baker, w. H. Wilmer
and number of leading business firms
Inc cost of maintaining the school is es-
timated at SIS Fer month. which includes
fire, services of Miss Eliza s. Green kim
dergartner; rent, and other incdentals
Miss Hooper is connected with the school
and carries OF neishhOrhood charity work
tc which she gives her time without re-
Enumeration.
This lady's work from the first has been
one OF great devotion and sacrifice tor
which no pecuniary return can be made "
a friend sad, in spea krg of her.
Miss Hooper realized that school of this
kind was particularly needed in that sec
uon. as there ara many poor people down
there. She saw that the children could not
be properly attended to, and the idea of
establishing a Kindergarten, which. by the
way. is nearest to her heart, was suggested
by frequent visits there.
Has Been of Great Value.
Those who know of the school assert that
1t has been of inestimable value to that
neigh5orhood. Many children at different
times have attended it. Prima rily they
themselves have been bettered by the ex-
istence of the kindergarten, and. second
arily, their parents have been benefited. 1t
Is hard to realize what good has been &C
ccmplished by the school until a talk has
han hn6 yIrtf nff H1~e 49, ~
children. Their only fear is that the schooi
may he discontinued
Sad to say. just at present the school is
in a bad condition pecuniarily. The amounts
received for its support since the opening
il the autumn have been extremely limited
and unless it Is generally supported now 1t
will have to be closed till the first Of the
year.
Ordinarily the Hooper school continues
until June I. An effort will be made to
have the charity workers come to its as
s:stance and let 1t continue. Should funds
be received In excess of the needs of the
school. they viii be expended through the
Associated Charities or be merged into the
fresh air fund for children. Mr.. Bailey
Willis of 1880 F street is treasurer.
Facilities Limited.
The school was visited this morning by a
Star reporter. While the accommodations
are necessarily limited on account of the
lack Of funds. much as possible is done
for the training of the children who attend.
There are no prints on the walls or other
objects which it is accustomed to find in
well-regulated kiEdergarte ms, and the teach
er, Miss Green, apologized by saying they
could not be secured on account Of the
straitened condition of affairs in connection
with her school.
Il will be glad for you to come in and re-
main while the children go through some
of their exercises" she told a reporter.
s0yr,;v, Jr.oI g H. =
and sickness there are not as many present
as usual An idea, however. can be gained
Of what the school really is
Seated around a square desk, formed by
putting four boards together, were about
twenty children. Their little chairs were
drawn up to the desk and they were seated
with their arms folded. While their eyes
expressed surprise at the appearance of a
hibit any outward sign OF excitement. There
were all kinds of children, boys and girls.
black haired. dark eyed. golden haired,
with blue eyes. chubby checked, and some
with little faces which seemed worn. The
majority Of them. however. appeared hap
by and healthy, and by the smiles they
showed that they were pleased with their
surroundings, their teacher and themselves.
as well as with Cne another. Some of them
we're little tots of humanity, hardly more
than large enough to toddle. The ages of
the kindergarten children extend from two
and half to six years, generally. Some of
the CIIliuEtu tHcTe were three years OIL age.
There was one little maiden of only three
years, whose eyes were stretched wide
open, but who behaved herself equally as
well as a young lady Of six or seven times
her age.
Children of the Poor.
'They are the children Of poor parents, ~
Miss Green said. land those are the kind
for whom kindergartens are intended and
who are most benefited by them. The
schools. you know. are simply to train the
faculties of children and to keep them en-
gagged while their parents are employed"
The children were cleanly clad, well kept,
and their manners. owing partly to the
training which they had received. were
excellent. They appeared 10 realize that
they were there for their own good. and
whatever was being done was for their
benefit. There were no tear-dirnmed faces,
no frowEs, and no expressions of liscon-
tent
When the ripple of surprise created by
the ushering into the room of a visitor
lad somewhat subsidized. Miss Green con-
tinued with the exercises, which had been
partially interrupted.
I'VE will have some singing now GILL
dren." she said. as she took her seat in