The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-14

, WRITTEN FOR II SUNDAY
An association which has made its effects
felt in many quarters of the city by its
b; work among young children Is the Isabel
Crow Kindergarten Association. organized
in 1884. and now maintaining a system of
free kindergartens for children too young to
attend the public schools. At present the
association has three branches in various
sections of the city.
The list of officers of the organization in
cludes many of the best known names in
the city. the original promoters of the
movement being numbered in the list. The
president of the association IS Mrs. Anthony
II. Blaisdell. while Mrs. Beverly Allen and
Mrs. Edwin C. Cushman are honorary vice
presidents. Mrs. George A. Madill Is vice
president, and Mrs. Edward Wyman is
treasurer.
Miss Louise Harrison Is recording score
tary, and Mrs. Theodore G. Meier is CORE
spending secretary. The Board of Mana
gers is composed of the Mines. A. II. Blais-
dell, Edwin c.. Cushman. E. c.. Simmons.
John P. Bryson, Walter C. Taylor. George
A.. Madill. NELL a. Mcmillan. Benjamin
Gratz. Wayman Cushman. Edward Wynan,
r. G.. Meier. T.. C.. Sterling. G. A. Finkeln-
burg, c. w. Barstow, +. H. Hamilton and
Charles Harris, and the Misses Chaplin,
Louise %Simpkins, Anna Ewald and Louise
4 Harrison.
The idea in establishing a system of free
kindergartens was to reach the poorer chill
dren of the city whose parents are unable
to send them to kindergartens where tuition
is charged. and who are too young to enter
the public school kindergartens. Miss
Eunice Jaynes. general supervisor of the
Kindergarten system. speaks as follows con-
corning the association and it's history:
THE necessity for just such a work as
this association is. doing in our city was
felt long before the Isabel Crow Kinder
garten Association was incorporated In 1891.
y start was made in that year by ladies in
terested in the subject, and the association
how maintains three morning and two aft
ernoon schools or kindergartens for the
sake of children in the poorest districts of
ST. Louis"
THE kindergartens are for the benefit of
children under 6 years of age who. by the
State law. cannot yet attend public school
kindergartens. The children, of course, are
taken free of charge, and it is wonderful
what n change the attendance at such an
Institution makes in them.
! Many of the children have no other play
ground than the alley and the mothers of
some are away from home all day at work.
In many cases, the children, rather than
being locked in the houses, are locked out
of them until their parents return In the
evening. and it is in such cases as this that
the school proves the greatest blessing.
1.-THE morning kindergartens are situated
at st. Stephens Mission at Sixth and Rut-
ger streets; at No. 1893 North Broadway,
and at Watts Chapel, on Victor street, be-
tween Third and Fourth streets. The aft
ernoon kindergartens are at No. 1923 North
Broadway and at Watts Chapel. The asso-
citation also maintains a kindergarten train
ing school which was organized in the
autumn of 1894 and which is conducted at
st. Stephens mission.
The students of the training school have |
their practice work in the kindergarten
supported by the association.
one who is accustomed to visiting these |
kindergartens can trace the gradual but
sure development and Improvement in the !
little ones. from the time of their 1,
entrance. Cleanliness must first be
emphasized. and soap and water in alum
dance, which first seem foreign to SOM of
the children, are soon appreciated and then
loved.