The Washington herald., 1908-03-30
KINDERGARTEN MOVEMENT

other. who had attended a mothers meet
have more light and clean walls" the
children OF the alleys fought less among
themselves and sang songs and played
games instead, things that the fortunate
ones who had gone 10 kindergarten had
brought back TO the others.
The New York kindergarten Associa-
ton spends sl,4OO a year for each school.
and Yet their work is not a drop in the
great bucket OF need. In one OF their
schools alone. down on the East Side.
there are twenty-nine languages and dia-
lects spoken, but OF such material they
are early molding good American citi-
zens. The first New York kindergarten
was opened by Miss Boelte in 1871, though
German citizens, knowing Of Froebers
work. had made some attempt at such
schools without success a few years be-
fore. St. Louis established the first kin
dergarten there In ISL. and by the school
year 1S79-1SSO had nearly 5000 pupils en-
rolled. The board OF education In New
Orleans IN 1876 selected a teacher for
primary work with special reference TO
her knowledge Of kindergarten methods.
But the first organized school there was
in 1856 II is fitting that the interna-
tional convention should be held there.
for that is the city Of Margaret. the
untutored workingwoman who lived for
the motherless and unframed children.
and who worked that she might leave
money to help acknowledgement, the
first woman TO whose memory a statue
was ever erected in this country.
It is interesting 10 know that the first
kindergarten teacher in America was the
wife OF Carl Schurz. that broad-minded
politician and man Of letters Mrs. Schurz
came over richly imbued with the ideas
of German klndergartens. From her Miss
Elizabeth Peabody, of Boston. learned Of
the new education. the new republic OF
childhood" and eight years later went
abroad TO further acquaint herself with
Froebel and his work On her return she
became the apostle OF the kindergarten
in America. Edward Eggleston was one
of the earliest Americans 10 have a kin
dergartner in his home. and from these
pioneers has spread the movement which
aims at the social Upllft OF the children,
and through them the uplift OF the family.
OF the neighborhood. and. eventually, Of
the nation.
The inimitable 'Squeers" OF Dotheboys
Hail was not wrong when Illustrating his
branches Of learning by practical appli-
cation. for the kindergarten aims at prac-
teal things The kindergarten is as nee
essary for the idle rich as for the idle
poor, and is a great nursery Of democracy
and patriotic principles. When Oberlin,
for ffty-nine years pastor Of Ban de Ia
Roche, near Strasburg. grew too old
10 preach, and was later pronounced TOO
old 10 take care OF the village pigs. Il
was decided that he might have the care
OF the village children. this being the or
der Of Importance in those days. So he
taught them games, answered their Ques-
tons after the Socratic method OF in
struction and had young woman come
and teach the little girls household arts
and industries. He shocked his parish
to the core. but his assistant. Louise
Scheppler. kept up the work for sixty
years more, and the shock that had set
Ban de Ia Roche by the ears spread
throughout the world and over here Froe-
bells prophecy is reaching realization He
said: The kindergarten can only have its
full development in America. where the
national principle is self-government in
perfect freedom, but according 10 law"