The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-24
CHATHAM MOTHERS CLUB.
IT'S PURPOSE TO STUDY CHILDREN
IN THEIR HOME LIFE.

The Club the Result of the "New
Education" Movement in Savan-
nah--Is the Outgrowth of the Kin
dergarten-The Club to Meet Once
a Month-"Games" to BE Discussed
at the Next Meeting.
A very recent and most interesting
development in the progress of the
new education" movement in Savan-
nah, to which the Kate Baldwin Free
Kindergarten has so largely contribu-
ted, was the organization of the first
Mothers Club for the purpose Of intel
ligent child study, at an enthusiastic
mothers meeting held ait the Chatham
kindergarten Thursday afternoon.
The mothers meetings are regular
feature of the kindergarten work, and
are held once a month for the purpose
of bringing the home and the kinder
garten in closer touch, of promoting a
good understanding of the work, and
of helping the kindergarten to know
the children better in their home life.
refreshments are served for the sake
of sociability, and a very pleasant aft
ernoon is enjoyed. This is very good,
Der of mothers decide to form them
selves into an organization to meet at
regular intervals for the purpose of
better unders landing the principles
that govern the nature of the child
and of Kindergarten work.
When Miss Pritchard, who is prin-
cipal of the Chatham Kindergarten,
sent out invitations for the first moth
ers' meeting of the year for last Thurs
day she expected a rather limited at
tendance, because it was a new thing
to the section of the city from which
the Chatham children come. 1t was,
therefore, with surprise and delight that
she and Miss Backus welcomed
thirty mothers, and before the after
noon was over, at the suggestion of
Miss Backus, club was formed, at
which she will only supply the special
information needed, instead of feeling
as heretofore that the whole RESPONSE
bility of the meeting rests with her and
the principal of the kindergarten where
the meeting is held. The club was
formally organized under the name of
the Chatham Mothers Club. The Off
GERS are:
President-Mrs. w. S. Nungezer
Vice Presidents--Mrs. H. /. Watt,
Mrs. j. H.. McKenna, Mrs. Galina.
Secretary and Treasurer-Mrs. A. S.
Justig.
Mrs. Watt, who is a member of the
senior class, represents the kinder
garten, and is an earnest worker for
its interests. A small yearly fee was
agreed upon in order to provide neces-
sary equipments and to furnish weav-
ing materials later on in the year, as
these energetic mothers wish to do
some of the manual training work
taught to the children. Il don't want
my Bessie to be able to do more than
lean" said one. and the remark seem
ed representative of the progressive
spirit of the meeting.
The club will meet at the Chatham
Kindergarten the third Wednesday of
each month and invites any one in
terested to attend once and then join
if they wish to do so. Although it is
especially for mothers, its roll shows
the names of several women promi
nent in phianthropic work, who feel
that this study will help them to deal
with the human problems that con-
front them.
The subject for the next meeting is
Games" and an interesting discus
sion is expected of games of nations,
of the home, street, and school, and the
scientific explanation of them. Miss
Backus will direct the discussion and
AN are. expected to contribute to its
interest.
Next Wednesday between 9 and II a.
m. the five kindergartenS will celebrate
Thanksgiving Day. This is done in
true kindergarten spirit by letting each
child bring something to send to fam
lilies. who have less to be grateful for,
and many well-filled baskets are sure
to result, even if our child brings only
one vegetable or fruit. A simple feast
is given to the children of the free
kindergartens, and often the princi-
pals are surprised and pleased by gifts
of fruits, cake or candy, for the chill
dTen, from most unlocked for sources.
Thanks to the county exhibitors at
the State Fair, the kindergartens will
be more than usually attractive, as
bundles OF grain, mammoth vegetables
and strings of corn make very effective
decorations. ,
The public is invited to be present
at any of the kindergartens, the only
request made by the management be-
ing that visitors will help the princi-
pals to preserve order and that beau
tiful unconsciousness of being watch
ed that is such fine result of kinder
garten training, by keeping quiet and
refraining from audible remarks on
the children or their work