New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-24
KINDERGARTEN UNION.
A THOUSAND TEACHERS IN CONVEN-
TION AT BOSTON
EBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.J

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEJ
BOSTON April 23-From every section of the
country there have gathered in this city in all
fully thousand women for the ninth annual meet
ing of the International kindergarten Union. which
its first session in the Arlington street
Church this morning. The address of welcome to
Boston, reports from all parts of the United States.
letters and cable dispatches from foreign coun-
tries occupied the three hours of the morning SEES
sion. About six hundred delegates were present
Mrs. Alice H. Putnam, of Chicago, president of the
union, presided and Miss Laliah B. Pingree. chair
man. made the address of welcome. In her adj
dress she called attention the fact that Boston
has always been foremost in its appreciation OF
the kindergarten idea. and always in active SYM
pathy with educational movements of all kinds
Continuing, she said in a reminiscent vein;
established the free kindergartens. which she car
RED on with rare devotion until they were adopted
by the school board later. What uphill
work it was then. with the Indifference of the pub
experience of the Undergraduates and. more trying
than all, the sentimentality of many Of its advo-
the prejudices of those early years. What We need
clpIes OF the kndergarten and greater ability 70
apply them; If the kindergarten movement lass
strate clearly and effectively its educational posi-,
m a@av With tbs 9 Any d ksaeer a
probation OF the Importance Of the work with Z,
educated and better equipped women for the work.
it will do much.
Edwin P. Seaver. superintendent of the Boston
PuDnc schools, was introduced, and made an eX-
tremely important utterance to kindergartners. 1t
was one of the interesting addresses of the
day. Superintendent Seaver said:
It may not be out of place for me to offer you
lie school superintendents point of view. in the
will do well to keep right on indicating. objec,
institution it must distnguish Itself clearly from
the day nursery on the one hand. and from the
chdrep,s playroom on the other 1t is neither
nor a convenient arrangement for amusing the
of early education intended to be used by all the
people rich and alike for the training of their
kindergarten will hold public confidence as long as
it employs highly intelligent teachers able to COM
In particular there is always the question of ex-
pense to be met in any public enterprise In the
case Of the kindergarten IT does no sood 70 snow
attempt to show ihat education in kindergar,
ten is cheap or that it can be made cheap: f3r II
ton in good primary schoos-sometimes more
garten can give to the question OF expenst-alWaaSs
a perfectly legitimate question-is given by proving
we may be sure the people will cheerfully for
it There is nothing more WastefnI ana or +y
economical than good ones . 49, =,
The day is surely coming though Oh, II may th DE
somewhat distant. when all children Will pegln tner
public school life IN the kindergarten We may pc
lieve this because the proportion OF those VINO 40
depends on the inherent worth of existing kinder
gartens and also in the recognition of that worth
Excellent bridge for leading the child over from
home life into school life. or. dropping metaphor,
kindergarten as mediation between the OPP
posites'' of home life and school life?
After Mr. Seaver's address the reports were
finished. and the convention adjourned until the
reception at Radcliffe College in their honor late
and Eliot of Harvard with Miss Susan 4. Blow. of
Hogie' New York and Miss curtis. Brooklyn have
been appointed on the time and place committee