The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-26
INTERNATIONAL
KINDERGARTENS.
Mrs. Warnings Report to the Tenth
Annual Convention Mt Pittsburg.

Mrs. Warnings Report to the Tenth
Annual Convention Mt Pittsburg.
The tenth annual convention of the
International Kindergarten Union, the
largest and most important organiza-
ton of the kind in the world, has re-
Gently been held in Pittsburg, and in
the several days sessions considerable
attention was accorded to the South
ern representatives.
Mrs. 7. P. Warning, representing the
Kate Baldwin Free kindergarten es-
tablishment of Savannah, was present
during the entire sessions, and by
submitting a report of the work here
and making application. brought the
local organization into touch with the
international. 1t was found that the
greatest enthusiasm followed the read
ing of reports from the South, where
the work is comparatively new, and the
fullest encouragement was given by
those who have seen the workings of
the system for many years and in con-
nection with the regular educational
plans Of states and cities. The meet
lEgs were held in Carnegie Hall, Pitts
burg, and were largely attended. Be
tween five and six hundred accredited
delegates were in attendance, repre-
senting all portions of the United
States and Canada.
During the convention a great many
addresses were made, but notable
among them were the addresses by
William T. Harris, LID. United States
Commissioners of Education, who spoke
on the subject, The kindergarten as
a Preparation for the Higher Civiliza-
tion." From the address the follow
ing is taken:
In our American community there
are two classes of children which need
the kindergarten more than any other
children. The first includes the chill
dren of the slums; those of the three
weakltng classes of society, the weak
ling in thrift, the moral weakling and
the weakling in intelligence. The kim
dergarten makes easy the path of one
of these weaklings to self respect,
moral ideas, industry and persever-
ance.
But there is another class to be
saved. An important work for the kim
dergarten is to prepare the precocious
children who are born into the fani-
lies of the newly rich for life helpful
to civilization. In the change of social
position the child of the family suf-
fers. The child is apt to become will
full and capricious, slothful and uncer-
tain in his habits of study, and an
unlnanageable pupil in school. Later
he comes to ruin in manhood.
The kindergarten is exactly adapted
to the training by mild means of such
children into helpful interest in CIV
ilization. The kindergarten does we'll
when it teaches gifts and occupations,
for it deals with the external world
and helps the children to the conquest
of nature.
1.-THE child from to 6, the proper age
for the kindergarten, has not yet hard
ened himself through the influence OF
the slum or through the influence of
too indulgent education in the nurs-
cry so as to be beyond hope of cure
through the school. The kindergar-
ten is for this reason the most pronis-
ing of all the instrumentalities used to
overcome the influence of the slums
which exist in our cities.
"As a matter of representation,
each city should organize a strong
force of kindergartens throughout all
precincts where the weaklings Of So
ciety come together"
In referring especially to Southern
work. DR.. Harris alluded in the most
complimentary terms to the splendid
support being given by Mr.. GeoI re ].
Baldwin of Savannah to the kinder
garten, saying that his self-appointed
task was the greatest that had been
assumed by any one man for the bene-
fit of education.
The convention was full of interest
from opening to close, and included
round table talks. discussions and
MANY other means of exchanging ideas
and lending encouragement. There
were, naturally some charming social
features. and the people of Pittsourg
proved themselves delightful hosts.