River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-23
THE KINDERGARTEN.

| came as an anaZSmenl ana prompt
ed me to pause and reflect on what
the existing conditions might be at
that institution that would justify
the discontinuance of so important
a department in its curriculum.
Can it be possible that the great
and leading educators in our state,
the men and women who have made
it possible for our state to occupy
the first rank in the educational
world, who have given freely of
their best thoughts and efforts in
the great cause of education, the
diffusion of knowledge and dissem-
ination of common intelligence, who
have done such noble work in plac-
ing our schools on one of the high
est pinnacles of the educational
structure in our country, have
struck from under the entire super
structure it's very foundation, by a
most unnatural deed, and by one
fell blow eliminated this important
department from our educational
system! Or is this particular insti-
tuition enshrouded in conditions pc
culiar to itself, unusually uncom-
mon, that cannot be understood ex-
cept bv the few in authority?
Surely this act is not that of the
intelligent, progressive educators of
our state!
Somebody, somewhere, is slip
ping or sliding backward. Who is
it?
The article, aforesaid, prompted
inquiry to be made into the cause
for this, seeming step backward.
The explanation given was that
there were not a sufficient number
of pupils enrolled to warrant the ex-
pense to the state of Wisconsin of
maintaining it. Secondly, that an
other department had been added
to the curriculum that might better
be maintained. Third, that there
has been marked, steady decrease
in attendance in the Normal proper
which must be checked and to do
this additional advantages should
be offered in the form of free tuition
at the expense of the elimination of
the very important kindergarten de-
partment.
The present increase in enroll
ment in the eliminated department,
obviously, is better showing than
in any of the other departments and
plainly shows the demand for it's
maintenance and continuation.
That the professional work in the
school will be seriously affected and
crippled is true beyond a doubt.
The question of expense to the
State of Wisconsin of maintaining
that department in this particular
institution is not fit for serious con-
sideration among progressive and
right thinking men and women. To
advance that argument is an insult
to the intelligence of old Wisconsin
and to the rights of River Falls in
particular.
The addition of the new depart
ment is highly commendable and
surely might have been had without
so great a sacrifice.
Tuition might have been elimin-
ated upon recommendation from
the proper authority yet the school
maintained in it's entirety.
AS an alumnus of the school l
cannot refrain from registering my
disapproval of such an outrageous
procedure and this because loyal
to the best interests of the institu
ton.
The schools that are best equip
ped are those most complete in all
departments. The success or
failure Of school is largely de-
pendent upon its principal, superin-
tendent or president as the case
may be. 1t is he who is responsible
for the standard and reputation
which the school enjoys as to its
general organization and manage
ment, teaching force, standards of
scholarship, equipment, esprit de
corps, etc. Il would be we'll to take
off the lid for few moments and
examine the peculiar conditions
surrounding this state institution,
thereby enabling US the better to
understand the reason why some of
these conditions are not improved
upon and others eliminated.
| have a faint recollection of there
being at one time an understanding,
as it were, between the Normal and
Public Schools that if the Normal
would inaugurate and maintain q
kindergarten department the Public
4 School would not have one.
Now that the Normal has aban.
doned this department the thought
occurred to me that the public
would be interested and demand