Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
KINDERGARTEN WORK
STATEMENT ISSUED REGARDING
LOCAL FIELD.
Question of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst's Sup
port What Community
Would Lose.

Grace Gallaudet Kendall, chairman of the
Washington kindergarten Association, and
Mamie " D. Skillman, secretary, have is
sued under recent date the following state
ment in regard to the free kindergarten
work in the District:
For eight years Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst
has generously supported the kindergarten
college and the three kindergartens that
have borne her name. This work has gone
on quietly, unknown to many citizens of
Washington, but now that it Is in imminent
danger of being discontinued it is time that
the community should know what it is like
ly to lose. Although Mrs. Hearst's interest
in the work is as great as ever, she finds 1t
necessary to withdraw almost entirely her
financial support. The announcement of
this decision was made to the faculty of
the college as recently May IA, and it
seemed at first as if there was no alterna-
tive before the institution but extinction.
But the students, the alumnae and the
friends Of the college declared with one
voice that this must not be it's fate.
"a letter from Mr.. Herbert Welsh tells Of
the effort that is being made to continue
the work. Under his guidance formed
ourselves into the Washington Kindergar-
ten Association, with advisory and execu-
tive committees.
Mr.. Welsh also states why we believe
the institution deserves to live. The rea-
sons are, in brief: Its Importance to educa-
tional interests in the south; it's impor-
lance as the training college of many of
the public school undergraduates of WASH
ington, who are constantly returning to it
for new light and inspiration; the high or
der of its work, and its situation in the ma
tional capital.
Teachers Sent Out.
During the eight years of it's existence
there have been sent from the college two
training teachers, one at present leading
the work in Richmond, Va; two assistant
training teachers, one supervisor of public
school kindergartens of Washington and
one director of settlement work in Cali
fornia, also teachers for Colorado, Mary
land, Virginia, Wisconsin, Rhode Island
and South Dakota.
In the eight years 173 students have
been enrolled, many Of whom have taken
two or three-year courses. In 1897 there
were five students in the college; this year
there were forty, of whom eighteen came
from places away from Washington some
of them from as far North Carolina,
Tennessee and Canada. During the eight
years $40 women have been enrolled in the
mothers meetings. and LILO children in
the kindergartens and connecting class.
THE postgraduate lectures are attended
per year by more than 100 persons not iden-
titled with the college. This year under
Miss Susan E. Blows able leadership a
POSTGRADUATE course lasting three months
thirty-seven training teachers directors and
supervisors coming from New York, Boston,
Worcester, Richmond, Farmville, Va, and
Washington, d. c.
Must Have Help Promptly.
IF help does not come promptly, the
work of eight years in building up one of
the best training colleges in the country
must come to an end. The college with its
three free kindergartens, two of which are
in poor districts, its connecting class. its
lecture courses, the rent of four houses
and it's especial work with reference to kim
dergartens in the south. cost last year
$4,000.
1--WE therefore ask the public-spirited citi-
zens of Washington to help raise this sum
of $4,000 necessary to carry on the work
next year. and give us a chance to reorgan-
ize on a permanent basis. OF this amount
we have been promised: The rent of two
houses. amounting to 50 300; tuition
pledged, $500; one subscription, 81 600;
three subscriptions of 500 each, 800;
conditional subscription. $50; total OF
IS. 900.
I'VE must be assured very soon Of the re-