Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-02-23
Facts About kindergarten.


IL is with regret that the friends of
the kindergarten have learned that It's
objects and aims are misunderst oOd by
a great many of the people of our city;
and that the character and scope of the
work done there is Underestimated,
either purposely or by those who have
not taken the pains to investigate and
inform themselves.
1t would be very strange, indeed, #
other cities, whose people are probably
as intelligent as our own, after years of
experience and investigation, should
continue such institutions, and even by
law, appropriate pert Of the school
fund for their use.
These institutions, of course, are not
schools in the ordinary sense OF the
term and as generally understood. If
that was the case the kindergarten
pupils would be in our public schools.
Education here does not consist of
"boOk learning it is rather the incul-
cation of habits of personal neatness,
the idea and knack Of using the little
hands and fingers deftly with pencil,
scissor, needle, brush, etc.; also polite
ness, grace and ease of movement; and
the little ones are taught to concede
something to others, to be unselfsh and
generous. In fact it is more in the
line of general moulding of character
so far as the little minds are capable
of understanding and receiving.
1t may be said that the children of
the kindergarten age would be better
Off at home under the eye of the parents
that the parents are as capable of train
ing their children as kindergarten
teacher. But the same thing would ap-
ply to children of school age. Many
parents are far more capable of teach
ing their children in any of the branches
taught in our public schools than the
majority of teachers, but they don't dc
it. Why Because they have neither
the time, inclination nor the cOnven.
fences. So it is with the Kindergarten
work.
But the prevailing idea seems to be
that such young children are::not of suf
ficient age to begin to learn anything
Who is to Judge? Many children OF
school age, which is six years, are much
too young both mentally and physically
to receive any benefit whatever from
the monotonous, stereotyped, cryetalized
process of "cramming' and grinding iu
vogue in so many schools and which is
called "system." 1t may be beautiful
system of red tape and "clock work.
But q system that creates in child ut
ter disgust at the word school" and
causes it to invent every conceivable
excuse to stay away; that causes ex
haustion of the little bodies, and many
other ills, might find some relief AND
improvement in the system" of kin
dergarten.
This is not ALL The institution we
have here is also sort of a charitable
organization. Those who are able tC
do so, pay $l.50 per month for eacf
child sent by them; they then have the
privilege of sending one child out OF
some other family, not able TO pay, as 6
free or charity pupil. About one hal
now are "free" pupils. Society in gen
eral has a deeper interest in this clas,
than the former. Their proper train
ing and molding of morals and charac
ter, commensurate with their age an(
understanding means much to the gen
eral condition of society in the coming
generation.
The members of this organization
have no personal interest in this cause
except so far as their own children art
concerned. Aside from this they art
public benefsctors endeavoring TO es
tablish the kindergarten on perma
nent basis as an institution of which
we may some day feel proud.
Give them your encouragement boil
moral and financial. If you feel char
itsbly inclined, drop a dollar into th'
fund. OBSERVER.