The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-10
WORK FOR
LITTLE FOLKS
KindergartenWork
Done in
Hawaii.
WHAT
DO TO LEARN
Teachers Work is Difficult But
Results Compensate for
Labor.

Last June marked the close of one
of the most successful years in the
history of the kindergartens of Homo
lulu. 1t was characterized by no great
event. such as marked some of the for
mer years. but ran smoothly and har-
moniously along from beginning to end.
Many of the problems concerning the
mechanism of the system, SO monstrous
al first, have disappeared under the
faithful and hard work of the teachers
and members of the committees.
The most difficult of these problems
was the securing of enough assistants
| with proper qualifications. The ques-
ton of numbers is solved satisfactorily,
but proficiency is still a crying need.
We have succeeded in raising the stand
ard a little and hope in time to have
w~ell-trained assistants.
Miss Barrett, of Palama, is spending
the year at her home in Iowa where
she is much needed. but we hope to
~ III "1hA 0o hOAN CSoA' ~H'S ANR
lin is ably filling the can Miss
Koka has accepted the dictatorship Of
a new kindergarten opened by Rev. A.
s. Turner of Kohala. Already her
work is greatly missed, not only in the
kindergarten, but in the homes of the
children where she was so welcome,
and SO helpful. While we cannot but
regret her loss, we are glad to think
she is carrying on her good work in a
place where she is much needed.
We shall miss Miss Panabaker of the
Henry and Dorothy Castle Memorial
kindergarten very much for her kindly
sympathy and helpfulness. She will
find a hearty welcome waiting for her
when she returns. We are indeed for
tunate in having Miss Cross with US
this year, and have already felt the
inspiration of her personality.
In many respects this year was like
most other years. There were the same
holiday obse1 vances at Thanksgiving
time, Christmas and Easter time, when
the mothers came to the kindergarten.
Through simple story, picture, song,
and game, the meaning of each occa-
sion was told so that both mothers and
children might carry away at least a
little of the spirit of the season.
There were the same excursions tax
en- to Waikiki, Manoa valley and other
points on the electric cars, to taro
patches, rice fields, vegetable gardens,
carpenter shops, blacksmith shops, ba-
keries, and other places of interest to
connect their work i'll the kindergarten
with the life going on in the commu-
nifty. These excursions have been
found most helpful in teaching English
as the children feel freer to talk than
at school.
There have been the same epidemics
of measles, whooping-cough, colds, and
other childish ailments more IT less
serious which badly depleted the at
tendance for short periods.
Th"re were the same cases of childish
misery, and neglect, to be helped in
ways best suited to each one. Here are
two instances where the help the kin
dergarten could give was sorely needed:
Did your mamma wash your dress
so nice and clean?" queried the teacher.
Nav" and there was a note of dis
gust in the six-year-old voice. you
think my mamma wash this dress? She
never. 1 bin wash. She too lazy"
This child has three brothers and sis
leTS. AIOSI u lne care lley receive SIG
gives them. for they are encountered
by a bad, dirty, lazy, ignorant mother
mother only in the physical sense. In
kindergarten Mary a learned how to
wash herself and her clothe And it
is here that she receives the inspiration
tn do so.
In the other case, conditions were
such that the teachers could go a step
farther in their help. They were three
little Spanish children living with their
father in a little room of awful filth and
horrible sanitary conditions. He was
earning $50 a month and would
not part with his children, who could
have been put into the Castle Home,
for nc said they were all he had and he
wanted them with him. A woman was
secured to thoroughly clean up the
house and put it in as sanitary a con
dition as possible. Then every morn
ing before school, one of the teachers
went over to the house which was near
by and helped the children clean up;
teaching and directing them to sweep,
make beds, and wash dishes. When
they came to school they We're given a
nice bath in the beautiful bath tub,
soon learning to battle themselves with
good results. Clean clothes were fur
niShed from the schooi supply Tor use
while there. hen they cooked their
own rice, measuring n washing it
and watching to see that it did not
burn. When done it was eaten with
a plentiful supply of milk as the home
breakfast was very poor. After eating
thev washed their own clothes, if they
were soiled, and then what time there
was left they joined the other children
in their games. Every morning the
same routine was gone over, the chill
dren so steadily improving under this
care, that they sooE grew to be as
plump and rosy as any children in the
kindergarten. Could this work have
beer continued until the children were
old enniIph to leave the kindergarten.