The Washington herald., 1907-05-07

years ago the kindergarten had become
factor in New England education in order
10 make the inevitable three RS more
attractive for the little pilgrims on the
road TO learning, Later. free klndergar-
tens with day nurseries, came as a god
send to the working woman. and as
means OF early salvation for the children.
San Francisco early had kindergartens for
her poor and It is a matter of record
that no name from the kindergarten rolls
has ever found its way 10 the records Of
the criminal courts,
The fact that education may have no
attractions for some Of the children Of
the country matters little 10 many States,
The schools are made as attractive as pos
sible, education is really sugar-coated for
those who fancy 1t a bitter pill. ana
then, when 10 is refused. the law arises
and makes IL compulsory. TTuant Off
GERS and truant schools in many places
provide for the chronicaily FebelliOus, and
through this means all children eventually
will be reached. The .sChOolhouses Of
to-day are most attractive; the best books,
often free, are offered the pupils; a
wOndeT-worid is opened through nature
studies. helpless hands are trained for
useful life in Industrial schools and man
uaI training shops; manliness and patriot
ism are a part Of the daily curriculum.
and even the physical well-being is made
a charge Of the commonwealth.
The quaint sampler. carefully stitched
by patient little fingers Of long age and
hung on the parl0r walls as a tribute 10
a little maidens good training in domes-
tic arts. has given place 10 the practical
thiags Of big domestic science schools,
where real things have real values. The
giTl of to-day sits in colleges with men.
and thinks on problems that feminine
minds should not know years ago. The
little boy Of the big hoop and the red
apple. who smiled smugly from the stiff
portraits of long ago, has broken away
from his sedate tutor, and among thou
sands Of his own age and ambitions Is
learning democracy and independence
nrst-hand in public Institutions that viii
ft him for a self-sustaining existence.
The old aphorism that children should
be seen and not heard" doubtless caused
much anguish TO little, inquiring minds in
IT'S day, but that. too. is a thing of the
long ago, Children are both seen and
heard to-day. They have come into their
own with startling promptness, They
have a voice in their own affairs nowadays
having clubs and organizations of their
own. The Children of the American
Revolution, five thousand strong. are i'm
portant factors in the preservation of
history and in the fostering of patriot
ism. The Hawthorne Club. of Boston,
with about 1900 members all under four
teen makes its own laws for its great
playground. and even exacts certain home
conditions Of its members, The Chicago
Newsboys' Protective Association is a
notable factor In civic Improvement. only
a few weeks ago several thousand chill
dren IN New York sat for over three
hours hearing talks on universal peace,
and took steps 10 form a league Of their
own for that purpose.
Twenty-Five years ago the Boys Club
was formed in New York, and was the
first Of its kind in the world. They met
first in a white-washed tenement with a
few college men 10 direct them in their
games and their studies To-day its
membership is 5,00G and it is self-govern-
ing stifl. On the heels OF this have come
other clubs. clubs for the children OF the
poor. and Of the rich; for the American
and for the foreigner who wishes 10 be-
come a future citizen, for the boot-black
and the newsboy, and the influence has
always been found good and helpful.
A preacher in a big city complained
some years ago TO the police that chill
dren playing in the streets disturbed his
congregation when at prayer, and asked
that the nuisance be abated. The curt
reply from the police captain was. They
have no other place to play; better pray
for sense 10 help them get one" This
minister then went down in the slums
AMI played and prayed and sang with the
children in the streets, and the public
awoke to the fact that children must play.
They turned schoolhouse Easements and
roofs into Fairgrounds; they made gar
dens for the children on vacant lots; they
aside special parts of the parks for them.
Thirty years ago a big-hearted pastor
in a Pennsylvania village told his flock
Of the wan. old-faced children of tile
slums who had never seen grass, or flow
ers. or trees. and when he had finished
there were sturdy farmers waiting, wet
eyed. to offer their homes for summer
outings. In a week the first fresh-air
party in America went out TO the farms
under the minister's care. That band
of nine wistful children has grown into an
army many thousands strong that fresh
air funds aid societies, improvement
leagues, Kings Daughters. newspapers.
and private charities are sending every