Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-19
FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
4 Kindergarten Established at
Leigh-strect Church.

Logh-Street Baptist church has just
added to its other methods for attracting
and helping the masses of the people
within the natural radius of its influence
a free kindergarten
The school is established for little folks
between the ages Of and 6-children OF
parents who are unable to pay for such
training.
The school is in charge Of Miss Morelle
Davis, the accomplished daughter Of Mr..
Noah K. Davis. Professor Of Moral Philo-
sophy at the University Of Virginia.
Miss Davis has always been n lover of
children. and after giving two years to
scientific study OF child culture at the
Peabody kindergarten Institute in Wash
ington, d. c., determined to give her life
to this noble work. She taught for two
years in Atlanta, Ga, with the most
fattering success, and now she has come
to Richmond at the invitation Of the
Lelgh-Street Baptist church. where the
influence of her wise and magnetic per-
sonality has already been felt among the
children Of the East End.
WORK or THE KINDERGARTEN.
At the request Of the Dispatch Miss
Davis herewith gives her conception Of
the place kindergarten training has in our
educational system:
You have studied German. and know
that Kindergarten" means "child-gar-
dem" As one would infer. it is where the
little human flowers are cultivated and
trained 10 their best deveOpment
Have you ever visited a "kindergar-
ten If not, allow me TO conduct you
20 Leigh-Street Baptist church, TO
nh hot has
superabundance Of light and sunshine
and that is filed with the busy chatter
and merry laughter of little children.
Put on the strongest of spectacles, that
VIII enable you TO see beneath the sur
face. Dvest your mind of the idea that it
Is school" as the word Is generally
understood. where the culture of the in
tellect is paramount. 1t is designed for
the symmetrical development Of the en-
tire child-physically, mentally, and
morally. AS has been said, the three
RS have given place TO the three HIS
hand, head and heart"
The senses which are 50 keenly alive
in childhood are cultivated By games.
tests, etc, that train child 10 use Alright
the senses Of smell, taste, touch, and
seeing Then, 90 discriminate the sensa-
tons and TO make nice distinctions. is
fine mental exercise.
The body Is developed I'm grace and
strength by exercises adapted to chill
dren. and above all Of the physical exer-
discs. are those for the development of the
hand.
1he intellect is strengthened and
aroused by games, gift lessons. and
occupations" that require exercise Of
oDesrVation, memory, attention, and the
reasoning powers.
The viii is strengthened by their being
thrown on their own responsibility and
by never doing anything for them that
they may DO for themselves
lney are trained 10 pr0mptness and
decision In a thousand little ways. For
instance. The teacher holds mn a dozen
pieces Of colored paper for foldings. Each
one makes their choice of a color. which
cannot be exchanged. The little girl who
chooses blue TOO hastily sometimes cries
Tor pink instead, but having chosen blue
sne must suck by IL with what patience
ana tnnosophy she can command
TAUGHT TO LOVE NATURE.
They are led, too, 70 love nature.
Everything is a wonderful work of God.
and as children naturally take more in-
tefest IN the material world than grown
people, childhood is pre-eminently the
time TO give them correct impressions and
TO cultivate the love Of nature, which love
IN after years will afford them deep
source OF pleasure that never fails and
that never pals.
The most beautiful and important Is the
moral training. Children with their purer
hearts prefer right 10 wrong if shown the
way. Kindergarten doesn't take the place
tain sort Of training at Kindergarten that
cannot be had In the most ideal home.
The kindergarten Is a community. an or
gained body, and the laws that hold il
together are the same that bind a church.
society, state, and government. There
they learn 10 sacrifice the individual To-
the general good, 10 be generous, polite.
patient peaceful, and harmonious. These
virtues cannot be cultivated in isolation.
IL Is IN the kindergarten. "the republic OF
chlldhood.' that "A child gets the first
Idea or the eSpOnsibiitles of citizenship.
solomon, you remember NOW I'm not
going 10 say spare the rod" etcD. said:
Train up a child in the way he should
90. and when he is old he will not depart
from IT,. Training is, therefore every
thing 10 child. II important TO the we'll
cared for child, how much more SO 10 the
children OF the poor, Over-worked mother.
VINO finds the days too short to provide
food and clothes for her children? There
are on the streets Of this city to-day hum
dreds-nay. thOusands-Of children. fu-
ture citizens, who are growing up with
out any training whatever The public
school cannot take the place of the kim
dergarten A chlld's tendencies and many
OF its habits are hardened at Z years OF
age
Socrates said: "Glve me the child. and
i will give the State the citizen" Bur
hush and listen for the gentle voice OF
the Good Shepherd which says:
Feed nv lambs"