The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-07

as an accepted department of education,
 he said '"rhe kindergarten has had a
 steady growth, both in the increase In It's
 own numbers and in It's influence in the general practice of elementary education,
 by uniting the home and the school in mutual helpfulness, and making self-help-
 fitness the basis of all education" This
 was four years ago, and in no degree has the kindergarten Iost ground as a national movement
 It is no over-statement to say that these conclusions are quite as true of the growth and influence of our klndergartens in Birmingham. While the Increase in the number of kindergartens has been small the appreciation of this work as a helper in the home, the church, and the school has been most encouraging. The spirit of this work is making itself felt at last in vital manner, and we
 believe the reason of this is because the greatest care has been exercised in select ing the teachers or klndergarteners as
 they are professionally known. Our en- deavor has been to select guides for the lit
 tie ones who would treat them with such care that no injury might come to them. We have encouraged only the touch of the skilled hand, at the risk of sometimes be- ing considered extravagant, endeayoring thus to have the soul within developed to vlbrate in unison with the divine pur- pose as expressed in the great world with out The good resulting from this high grade work has gained the confidence Of our people, and has placed the kindergar-
 ten work in our midst on the same high plane 1t occupies in other sections. Of the various lSindergartens supported
 and or erated under the auspices of the associa tion, detailed reports will be given in the superintendent's report. The only word that should be said here is to em-
 pnasize the thought of the harmony that has existed throughout the entire system. | nere has been only a pleasant rivalry, each wing with the other to excel in good works. This has been matter of qualification to our supervisor and is no less so to the board of directors, and must naturally be so to the wider mem- bership
 The chairman of the training class will
 report on that department. Since the number of children admitted to the kin dergartens depends largely on the num- | Der of young women in training, to do 1 the greatest good to our city in the ! work we have undertaken. we see how 1 necessary it is for this department to be 1 extended. and your attention is called to [ the recommendations made by the chair 1, man. Mrs. T. D. Parke.
 1 And this leads us to a consideration of
 the extra expense incurred in striving to 1 strengthen this department. Owing to the l generous spirit of Mrs. ". s. Lowell and 1 Miss Lena Jackson. instruction in art ] and music were added this year without : a cents expense to the association-in-
 deed as great as was the need for in- ! struct:on in both branches, the large i expense would have prohibited the in
 troduction of both. As these friends of the work gave their services the board 1 felt justified in employing Miss Mckin- l ne.- as instructor in manual training | The increased interest In this impor- | tant work proved that the experiment 1 was entirely worth while. In order to ! facilitate the work of the training class 1 from the standpoint of environment, at l the recommendation of our supervisor, i we rented the small room in the same | building occupied by the Central kinder 1 garten for this department. This met a great need, and the loss of this conven- i fence was keenly felt when the two kin : dergartens were consolidated two weeks | prior to the end of the session. This room also gave the board a desirable meeting place where their conferences | could be held without interruption. I rec ] ommend that such a room be secured next session as it's need entirely justifies the ! additional expense.
 ! The Cooperative kindergarten of Foun-
 tain Heights has so commended itself to the directors that they do most heartily 1 recommend the plan to other neighbor-
 hoods in the city.
 A distinct gain in numbers is shown by
 the following figures: Total enrolment.
 577; average attendance, 20
 A distinct gain made by the kinder 1 garten movement has been it's recog-
 nillon by the city as one of it's aids in
 improving conditions I refer to the very recent act of the City Council in voting { a regular monthly contribution to our work for which we feel sincerely frate- full
 l Our loss has been in the resignation of
 our loved and valued supervisor, Miss 1 Mary King Drew. Miss Drew was no l time -server-she gave herself fully and l freely to her work. she loved it. and her | exalted ideals of a.. that is true and beau tiful influenced not only the young wom-
 en in the training class the principals
 in charge of the kindergartens and the little children in attendance. but the wom- l en of the board She came to us highly recommended. and she more than Justlhed l the high estimate set upon her charac- ter and work. The decided impetus up-
 ward that the work has shown during
 the past year, we attribute directly to
 the influence of Miss Drew We shall
 miss her, but shall prove the real strength
 of her influence by redoubling our efforts | to sustain the influence she has set In i motion. We wish her God speed in her new field of loving labors. She takes with
 har of our strongest workers, MISS