The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-30

BY the Introduction Of the kindergarten
Into tho public school system Of It's lead
ing city, Virginia has taken her stand
among tho Internationally progressive
states or tho Union. She is the thirty
fourth State TO recognize the klndergar-
ten us the foundation stone. or. to usc
d better smile, the seed-corn, out OF
which develop primary, secondary. col
lego and university education In progress
4 swe and logical sequence. Her educa-
tionl,al system Is now complete, and she
ony needs to extend and enlarge IT.
,rhe interest In this special phase Of
education has been slow IN coming, but
once aroused, It has grown with sur
prislng o,iickness. and has accomplished
results with almost phenomenal rapidly.
For several years there have been in
Richmond ltindergartens connected With
,ts leading private schools mo modern
school now considers itself complete with
out one). and two or three supported by
Il missions or private subscriptions, notable
among which 10 Mics Arcnts's fine work
\ ut ST Andrews Mission. This kinder-
gartcn, practically free. receives about
fifty children each year in Its two large.
sunny rooms, and substitutes for the
freedom OF the streets healthful. happy
work. ana inlay. and wholesome moral
influence which becomes tho chllds
dover for life; another kindergarten.
which deserves special mention,is that
conducted on Brook Avenue. where from
thirty-fivc to forty children como daily
during the school year. XII
About two years ago, and largely
through the influence OF the Richmond
Education Association. the School Board
became convinced Of the Importance OF
the Kindergarten. as an Integral fea-
turc OF the school system and petitoned
tho Council for an appropriation. which
would enable them to accomplish It's IN
production In Richmond. The Council
appropriated 5000 for kindergartens and
manual training with this discourage
ingly small sum, the School Board In
the autumn OF 1908 opened three kinder
eartcns judicioisly distributed In widely
separated sections of the city The NUM-
ahet. OF appIcatltss established Mt once the
\ fact that they met n genuine need Many
or the children could not be accornmo-
dated, but wcreSput on waiting lists ana
i patiently bided their time until vacail-
ClgBt lTUuls W srsAiS'SA''sA
r occur.
For one year these klndergartens haye
E successfully conducted their work: the
west End and Belvidere. with fifty chill
dren each. and the Valentine, with seven
ty-flve. Tho interest shown in them by
the parents and relatives and their gen
,,ina appreciation OF the benefit TO the
children have been extremely. gratifying,
and it may be said. have put the kinder
gartens beyond the point of mere expert
lnent, and have established their perma-
nancy.
A large and Important feature OF their
work has been the formation of mothers
clubs, the members OF which have set
themselves earnestly 10 studying tho
problems connected With the wise nurture
OF their children and have intelligently
and sympathetically co-operated with the
kindergartners In their work. These cl,Hs
have met always once month, sometimes
twice. and the attendance has been graft
fyingly large.
Such problems as dlsobedicnce and n1-
truthfulness. proper methods Of punish
ment, habit forming. chidren's occiipa-
lions, etc, have been among those dis