The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-19
SCHOOL BOARD PREPARING TO
OPEN KINDERGARTEN.
THEIR NUMBER IS DESIRED
Trustees Trying to Learn How Many
Will Attend-Need
Not Walk.

DSIoIlulueu LuaC IL SQall pc a sue
cess, the board of education has
started out in a systematic manner
to inaugurate the kindergarten de
partment of the public schools of the
city, addition of which to the system
was decided upon sometime ago and
which will be opened at the beginning
of the coming term.
The first thing the trustees have
undertaken is to ascertain the number
of children, as near as possible, that
will attend so that proper arrange
ments may be made fer their accom-
mediation. With this object in view
a circular letter is being sent out
to all parents of the city requesting
them to fill out am attached blank CIV
ing the number of children they have
between four and six years of age
and their sex and if it is intended
that they shall attend the school and
furthermore if the parents are willing
to pay a nominal cost OF transporta-
ton, for taking the children to and
from the school, and to what session
they would prefer to send them.
Explanatory of these questions it
might be proper to give the substance
of the letter accompanying the blank.
After stating that installation of the
kindergarten department has been de-
cided upon, the letter a that all
children of the district between the
ages of four and six years are elig-
ible to take the work. The sessions
of the school will be three hours long.
One begins at 9 o'clock in the morn
ing and closes at II, noon The other
begins at 1870 and closes at 4. Pu-
pills will be permitted to attend only
one of these sessions each day. One
room has been set aside in the new
%southside school building for the use
of the kindergarten and will be fur
nished with every modern equipment
necessary to the success of the school.
Should it be found that the number of
pupils will be greater than can be
accommodated on the south side, a n
other room will be furnished on the
north side.
In order that the beard may act in
diligently in the matter of ordering
supplies it is essential that some
knowledge be had concerning the
number of pupils that may be expect
ed, hence the inquiry concerning the
wishes of parents in regard to send
ing their children and how many are
to be expected from each family.
AS many Of the little ones will of
necessity be compelled to go a con-
siderable distance and because of
their tender age, some of the trustees
have made investigation as to the
possibility of securing transportation
for them at a nominal cost. AS a re-
suit it is believed that a contract
can be entered into by which a cover
ed conveyance cam be secured to- call
for the children and return them 10
their homes at a cost not exceeding
5 cents a day, the expense to be borne
by the parents. This arrangement,
however, should not be considered as
abridging the right of parents to send
their children in any manne they
may see fit.
A special supervisor from the Los
Angeles, Cal, public schools has been
engaged to take charge of the depart
ment. He is said to be one of the
best teachers of this branch of public
education in the west and because of
the manner in which he has been rec
commended to the board, it's members
nave every reason for believing that
the kindergarten of the Billings
schools will soon rank among the sue
seccful ones of the country.
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