The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-30
THE KINDERGARTEN HAS
MADE SYSTEM COMPLETE

NEM COMPLETED
ciissed With results helpful to mother
and Kindergarten cllke. When parent
and teacher work together. the problem
Of child training Is we'll on its way to
solution, and In these same mothers
clubs lies untold hope for the future.
K In 1904 Tho Council appropriated 10000,
which not only insures the further nam
tenafice of these kindergartens. but VIII
provide for three additional ones. which
}nre to be opened IN September Thus the
school year Of 1904 will sec Richmond
provided with Six large and we'll equipped
kndergartens--a two years record which
many alargcr city might be proud OF.
All but two OF the seven kndergartners
conducting this work, are graduates OF
the Richmond Training School for Kim
dergartners. which Will begin Its fourth
session October 8. 1904. This institution
has lately been incorporated and has
large and Influential body OF trustees.
The Ipubic schools look to It totisuppy
them with Undergraduates, but 80 far 1t
has not been fully able TO- meet the do
lmand. several OF the graduates having
gone into private work. II is to be hoped
that Richmond and Virginia girls will
realize the opportunity that lies before
them, and will not make II necessary to
import kindergartners from other States.
TO Norfolk must be given the palm 4of
first having voted public money towards
the maintenance Of q free kindergarten;
but she has fallen far behind Richmond
In the extension OF this good work. Il
Il The Kindergarten Association OF Nor
folk has showed great pluck and deter
sminatlon during Its three years Of ex-e
listence. II now numbers 125 members,
and with the aid OF $1,000 appropriated
by the Council. supports two free kin
3dergartens under the dictatorship OF Miss
Wadswortli and Miss Jaeger, and normal
training school under Miss Wadsworth.f i
Both these ladies are, graduates Of the
Chicago kindergarten College. The as
ISOLATION hopes for larger appropriations
from the Council. and in time to see
tRichrnond's example followed by the In
corporation OF the liIndergartens into the
public schools.
1T is a cause for congratulation that
Virginia's one normal school at FARM
vile has recognized the Importance OF
training for kindergarten work. and will |
In the autumn open a kindergarten de-
partment under the able direction Of !
Miss Elizabeth Freeborn, graduate OF
Teachers College. New York. 1t Is Pres
ldent Jarman's intention that part OF
the course which contains the funda-
mental principles of all education shall
be open to all the students. while the
entire course Of two years will be open to
those who wish to specialize A kinder
sarten Is conducted In connection with
this department which Will be used for
practice and obserya ton. q, K.
With three training schools It should not
be long before every town and county N |
Virginia has Its Kindergarten or kinder
gartens. Many OF them are now ready
and anxious. and are simply awaiting |
their opportunity. There could be no |
more womanly or beautiful work for
FVlrginia's daughters than the nurture Of
the States future citizens. nor no work
In which refinement and culture are SO
needed.
The aim OF the Kindergarten is so COM
prehensive; its purpose so fundamental,
that the best and highest talents find
fun scope in It's work, while the fact
that It deals with the beginnings of life |
the getting started In the right way
calls for strong and disciplined characters
and trained Judgment and insight.
n Education by development OF inherent |
powers. training OF the will to effort and
self-control. Indictment OF the intellect
to originality and creative work, the
stimulus of the sympathetic nature, ex,
;ercise OF the body--above all. the recogni-
ton of the individual as social being, |
born to fulfil his part In family, SOL
clety and as citizen of the State--may be
said to be the Fundamental principles
which govern all activities In the Kinder
'garten.
1t Is largely In its social aspect that the |
Kindergarten is OF such vital Importance.
The child enters at once into a little |
community wherein each dimInutive eiti-
zen Is made to feel his responsibility |
for the welfare and conduct OF the whole !
Here is no place for wilfulness and sell
fishness: each must respect the rights Of |
the other. and mutual courtesy and
consideration make an ideal atmosphere
for harmonious development. t
One reason for the happiness OF children 4
In. the kindergarten lies In the fact that |
II demands the best and highest OF each,
and through exercise of the social virtues |
and obedience to the law which respects |
the right OF each. they are saved from
being the victims of theirslown Ca prices 1
and from the WEAKNESS OF spirit which |
results from too much Of "ona's ownft
way S9,s5 Il
The habits OF thought. feeling and ac-
tion which are formed very early In |
childhood largely determine. adult char
acter. Start a child In the right way
and he will usually continue ;tlong the |
same lines, The State which fecognizsss |
this and provides for theS education and |
proper care of Its little children is pro-
plding for future useful and ls,w-a bidingSl
citizens. and Will have small need of peni-
.tentiaries and jaiIs 5 s N h S
Character forming. though the chief. la
not the only phase of kindergarten work, /
Intellectualypit prepares directly for the |
work OF the primary school bysits train
Ing OF the powers OF observation. concen-
'tration, logical thinking and by Its form /
and number work. The child who has |
had two or even one year In good,
Kindergarten should ana does overcome
much more,quckly the difficulties In read
ing. writing and arithmetic than the
child whose mind has had no systematic
awakening. while he carries to his task
an interest In and love for school which
should greatly Tighten the work Of the;