The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-05-03
KINDERGARTEN
CELEBRATE
Continued from Page one)

public primary schools of Honolulu,
and it was one of the most enjoyable
of the five or six similar events Of pre-
vlous years In the neighborhood of
1000 children Of almost every national
ity and ranging from tiny toddlors in
care of nurses to little people from
merry crowd No fixed rormaIities
were observed, and for the time being
childish eXuberance of spirits reigned
supreme. While the band played Soc
lection after selection Of bright march
music, the great fajority of the little
folks chose to skip in a great circle
about the band stand, hand in hand.
There were children of every shade of
color known in the human family, from
the fair-haired child Of the Norseland
to the ebony-hue of the child Of Cen
trial Africa, and with the only true
democracy Of Childhood. every integer
in the iostling throng was regarded
among themselves as equally impor-
tant White silk stockings flashed i'm
time to the music with dusky brown
ones, while dimpled white fingers chung
in truest friendship little brown hands.
OF the kindergartens there were
about three hundred the others being
from the primary grades of the public
schools. Nearly all of the little people
were decorated with leis of flowers or
ribbons, and bright colors predominant
ed in the dresses of the majority. The
classes from the different schools ar
rived between 9 and 10 o'clock general
ly on street cars, marshaled by their
teachers or directors. and each bearing
a distinctive banner. Some of the
classes carried little penants with their
class or school initials which had been
made by the children themselves, and
others were distinguished from the
others by colored sashes.
The general supervision of the days
doings was in the hands of Miss Fran
ces Lawrence, the Supervisor of the
several indergartens of the Free Kin
dergarten and Children's Aid Associa-
ton. There are five of these schools
supported by public subscription, be-
sides the Castle kindergarten, also a
free institution, but privately support
ed. The little ones from the different
schools were in charge of their respec-
tive directors, as follow:
Palama kindergarten, Miss Anna
Campbell; Vineyard Street Kindergar-
ten, Miss Nena Eaton; Fort Street Kin
dergarten, Miss Mabel Gilbert; Hawai-.
ahao kindergarten, Miss Carrie Braig;
Miller Street kindergarten, Mrs. ]. An
drade and Castle kindergarten Miss
Ermne Cross.
Aside from the chief attraction, the
band the little people were interested
| in a half dozen diminutive May Poles,
and other chldren's attractions.
In speaking of the affair Miss Law
renee said: I'VE are letting the chill
dren do about anything which strikes
their fancy. In former years we did
| try to have some system and to carry
out a fixed program, but it hampered
the children in the enjoyment of per-
| feet freedom. We made a great deal
out of the arrangement with the result
that the park was thronged with grown
who had the good time, while the
children didn't Now we do not care
about older people, and the little ones
enjoy themselves to the fullest extent.
It has come to be the one great day i'm
the years to all the little ones of the
schools, and is looked forward to for
months.
The average number of children at
tending the free kindergartens is about
300, although We may during the year
have an enrolment of probably 500
fearful congestion i'm the lower grades
| of the public schools results in the
kindergartens having children some
| times or 10 years of age. who should
be In the public shoots. but are unable
to seurc admittance. I think the big
gest lack in our school system is ac-
commodations for children in lower
| branches. We have a compulsory edu-
cation law, but there are thousands of
smaller children who cannot get into
the schools. and thus for them the law
is Ineffective"