The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-12

Set Forth-Address by Rev. w. f.
Gibbons. of the Dunmore Presby-
terian Church-J. Benjamin Dim
mick Elected President.
A larger number of people than at
any previous time assembled last night
at the annual meeting of the Free
Kindergarten association. 1t was the
seventh anniversary of this great
work in Scranton and vicinity, and
those who have so faithfully support
ed 1t could not but feel encouraged
in the results shown. The meeting
was held in Guernsey hall, and not
only the officers and friendsAof kim
dergartens were present, but also
many mothers of the little children
who were marshalled on the platform.
This was q new feature<of the &C.
casion. Thirty or more tiny girls and
boys marched up the aisles and were
arranged in a semi-circle, the lend
men, being two colored tots, while
the little chap who occupied the 'in-
torlocutors' seat in the CENTER was
likewise small dark skinned child.
To sprightly music the little people
sang their motion songs and gave un-
mistakable evidence of exceptional
advantages gained from the right sort
of training 1t was hard to believe that
some of the neat, beautiful children,
with their gentle ways and quick intel
ligence were brought from the alleys,
and in some cases from homes or
wretchedness and destltution. They
were dismissed, each carrying fine
big rose presented by the teachers.
Mr.. A. D. Holland presided over the
meeting. Miss Underwood, the super
visor of the free Kindergartens, gave
a valuable and interesting report,
which appears herewith in part:
MISS UNDERwooD's REPORT.
Since our annual meeting occurs always IN
June, an account of the years work Of the Free
Kindergarten association properly begins with a
record Of the summer kindergarten, the first va
cation school of any kind to be opened in Scran-
ton, | believe. This was held during the months
Of July and August, 1sO9 in the old quarters of
the Central kindergarten in the lIowley building,
corner of Penn avenue and Mulberry street. Two
OF the Kindergarten associations had Misses San
tee and Jordan in charge of this work and man
aged it so successfully that a great change was
fouIS in the behavior of the children entering
being in the streets and alleys adjacent to Penn
avenue all summer, they are wild and almost
unmanageable for time, but this year the kim
dergarten influence continuing through the sum
mer months and giving them developing occupa-
tion through the morning hours (has made the
| work of the year, brought them to September in
a condition much more fit to profit by the work
| Of the year and a visible consequence the re-
suit of the years work have been more satisfac'
| tory than before.
| think that it is not assuming too much to
| say that think that look into the faces OF
| these children, from one who observed them as
they entered last summer fall, would be suffi'
| cient to reveal the changes wrought by the kim
| dergarten. They appear much more intelligent,
| conduct themselves in orderly manner. are
| more neat and more happy. For little children
| they have quick perception of right and wrong,
| and are generally easily controlled by an appeal
| to honor In an enrolment OF fftv
| there is a large percentage of Jews and Italians,
| with a sprinkling of Afro-Americans none OF the
| latter being found in any other kindergarten.
With an appropriation of $1,000 made last June
by the board of control at the earnest solicitation
| Of friends of the Kindergarten and the agreement
| Of cooperation between the board of control and
| the Free kindergarten association in their man.
| agement, began in kindergarten history
| in this city, and those who had labored long to
| secure this end gratefully thanked God and took
| courage
| PASSED STATE EXAMINATION.
| 1t was agreed that in order to secure the best
| equipment for work on the part of the teachers
| that high school certificate and the diploma OF
| some good kindergarten training school be re-
| quired of each applicant for a position as kin
| dergartener. Under this regulation it became
necessary for seven regularly trained kndergart
| ners to take examination in high school studies
| under Professor Howell, which they did, accord
| ingly, passing this examination successfully in
| each case. Four of these young women then be
| came employees of the city, while the other three
| returned to their places under the association
| the work of the public school kindergartens and
| of the free kindergarten having thus been placed
| upon the same basis. The three kindergar
| tens made possible by the increase Of public ap
preparation were located respectively on the West
and South Sides and on the Green Ridge Flats
| The West Side kindergarten was organized in Q
light and airy basement room in No. 10 school
| Of which Miss Josephine Lees is principal. Mis-
| Grace Peck and Miss Emile Flynn installed
as teachers. The South Side kindergarten wa
| opened in a large and attractive upper room IN
No : school, of which Miss o'Malley is principal
| Miss Elizabeth Rice and Miss Clara Gregory ar,
the kindergartners here. No unoccupied room
| having been found in No. "a school on the Greer
| Ridge Flats, two rooms in a private house OF
Gardner avenue were rented for the organization
of public kindergarten in that part of the city
Miss Belle Monahan, of Lawrence, Mass, a grad
uate of Miss Wheelock's training school, cam,
to take charge of this.
The establishment Of kindergartens in vacan
rooms of the public school buildings was a steI
| long desired by the association in order that tn,
relation of the primary grades in kindergarten
work might be more clearly seen and more easil!
studied; that the effect of the kindergarten spir
might be felt in the upper grades and primary
and kindergarten react upon each other. In boil
cases where our kindergartens have thus beer
placed they have been most auspiciously located
and every kindness and consideration has beei
shown by the principals, eyincing cordial appre
citation Of the ends and aims of kindergarten
work.
GIVEN DISTINCTIVE NAMES.
At the suggestion of Superintendent Howell
each kindergarten received at its formation
distinctive name by which it should be known
instead Of a number, as is the case with tn
other public schools of the city The name
chosen were those Of noted writers and worker
in the kindergarten field. The North Side o
Providence kindergarten took the name of Froe
bel, the founder OF the kindergarten system; tn
South Side the name of Susan Blow, the hea'
Of the kindergarten movement in this country
and West Side that of Elizabeth Peabody. tn
earliest exponent of Froebelism in the Unitet
States; the Green Ridge Flats that of Luc!
Wheelock, OF Boston, who needs no introduction
to a Scranton audience, having spoken most ae
ceptly upon the kindergarten several times IL
this city,
| The >napel kindergarten becomes the Eliza