The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-10

KINDERGARTEN OPEN
Twenty Children Admitted
to the New School on
Mercer Street.
WHAT THE ROOMS ARE LIKE
All Kinds and Races Of Little Ones
Representations for
the Future.

The free kindergarten started by the
recently organized Kindergarten Associa-
ton. opened yesterday in the old No. II
school, lent by the Board of Education.
The school, which is on Mercer street,
just below Brunswick street, has much
the appearance of a fire engine house,
with it's bright new flag and its large,
freshly painted green doors. AS yet there
is no sign hung out and visitors who want
to be sure before entering the Hospitality
open doors lave to inquire of the neigh
bors. Within, upstairs, the rooms have
none of the appearance of a school. The
front room, which is the only one used
at present, is large and airy. 1t has a
window on each side and two windows
in from. In the front windows are a
number of Towering ported plants, pre-
scented by Mr.. Pierson. A square piano is
placed at the front of the room, next to
a large shelved closet, which holds the
articles used by the kindergartens. Three
kindergarten tables, arranged to form
three sides of a square, and another table
at one side of the room, with a number
of children's chairs, complete the furnish
ing. Colored pictures are tackled on two
of the walls and there is plenty of space
for more. The mex room. which is not
in use now. is also large and square and
well lighted. Behind it are two rooms,
each half the width of the building. The
building is delightfully."- airy, though it
still smells of kalsomine and fresh paint.
Miss Lillian Fuller is head teacher, as
sisted by Miss Soper, Miss Holland and
| Misc rn1Iar1 AT;-e Caxo, 1.1~ -, olA+1J
the kindergarten course n Miss Ho1-
land plays the songs and marches as
well as assisting in other ways. Twenty
children have been admitted to the kim
~dergarten. The selections from the long
list of applications were made by Mrs.
Marvin of the Kindergarten Committee.
All the children are five and six years
old, with one exception, q three-year-old.
Those admitted are-Jeddy Salamoni, En-
ma Doerr, Louise D'Archinius, Lille
Mora, Katie Abboto, Willie S%chauffler,
Lizzie Mades, Mamie Jacob, Rosa
S~hualtaeski, George Kelly, Johnny Sala-
moni, George Gunther. Jimmy Sullivan,
Harry Hamilton, Julia Miner, Christie
Heippie, Bella Nichols, Hattie Hahner,
Gertie Mahoney and Tommy Sullivan.
There will be ten children admitted next
week, and each week a few more will be
admitted until there are sixty, the limit.
The teachers prefer thai plan, as the
children are all so unframed and unused
to school discipline that It would be
] awkward to handle the full number at
the start. When there are thirty-five the
class will be divided, the brighter ones
advanced and the duller ones kept back.
The second room will then be used and
the two smaller at the rear, which are
now being cleaned, will be used as hat
and coat rooms.
1t is an amusing study to notice the
children. There are several races repre-
sented and a vast variety of types. Some
of the children seem to be still undecided
as to Via the kindergarten is. They
notice all that transpires most carefully,
ever on the watch for something that
will show them whether it is best to cut
and run or stay and brave it out. A few
others look down on their neighbors
from their heights of superior knowledge
and wait for the events of the day, salts
fed that everything will be delightful and
that there is nc catch. Already one little
girl has earned the sobriquet, Mourn
full Jennie" given her because she weeps
on the slightest provocatien. Whenever
she is addressed she obviates the neces-
sity of answering by a sudden flow of
tears. She seems to keep a stock of tears
ready at a moments notice and she can.
seemingly, without the slightest diff
Guilty, let some gentle drops roll down
her cheeks when bending over her card
board and worsted, whenever she is ap-
preached. Jennie is more than out
! xz.-ln- 49, 1901 1;++1D +oA1 r-a4 mi ~ o1o
at everything. There is one young man
of six who thinks himself above worsted
work and like kindergarten frivolities.
When he was given his card and was
told how to sew it he disdainfully pushed
it aside. Soon, however, the card proved
too attractive and when he thought him
self unobserved he took it up and worked
it beautifully. One little. boy caused a
deal of amusement by his struggles with
his luncheon. The children all bring a
little luncheon which they eat at eleven
Cthe hours are 9 to 12) and this little fell
low evidently was unable to dispose of
all of his, for half an hour later the re-
mains had been rolled in a round ball,
which in a few minute was considerably
fattened as its small owner carefully sat
upon it.
The attitude of the outsiders is also
amusing. The children from the parish
school across the way and the children
from School No. 8 race over to the door
of the kindergarten as the little kinder
partners come down stairs and out on the
sidewalk, feeling and looking very inn
p~ortant. The onlookers relieve their feel
ings by remarking on the personal APP
~pearance of the little ones and by asking