The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-30
ny rREpEniC B. HAsKIN.

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To day In New orleans Will be held
the fifteenth annual convention q the
International Kindergarten Union. an
Organization that is working zenlously
for the introduction of kinderg arte y,
countries, for tho early education or
lvention there vii be many interssting
dlsenssions relative to the "a. advan &c.
story, the game, occupation, gardens
and excursions vii be all-absorbing
topics for awhile. for on these things
the modern kindergarten ,t teasher h hs-
pends greatly for the success &c ,,s % h ar
the achievements Of the Congress- or
Mothers. of the fairgrounds Associa.
tion OF America, OF the national Chiid
Labor Association and OF the Southern
Union itself. for the end and aim OF
all these is one and the same-.the up
lifting OF childhood along all lines
enlightened citizenship. The delegates
In attendance will represent 1900
members, living In the United states
and Canada. and n many foreisn cour-
tries, INCLUDING India. Japan. Aus.
republics and the Sandwich Islands.
Not a half century ago the general
idea obtained among parents and
teachers that children were perverse
by nature. that every natural Impulse
force was essential to secure obedience.
and that an endless list OF don't"
was n necessity In the dispensntton Of
knowledge. The kindergarten has come
effectual so far that the old theory
is becoming as obsolete as the belief
In Wltchcraft. There arc no people in
all the world so full of enthusiasm
MAI Nt,< vnp1S n vn n IN -
Rartncrs, and II is to the nation's loss
that there are not more OF them busy
among the nations littlest citizens.
y There are 100000 children in the
United States between tho ages OF three
and six years-the age at which the
charge. TO give these the proper. start
in life the nation needs 100000 kinder
gartens. and 100000 teachers. Figures
show that In cities OF 1000 inhabitants
dergartens are to be found, there are
approximately 100000 pupils, $500
HYDROCARBONS and 5000 Instructors.
The scattering numbers In mill and
mining towns. rural dlstricts and VII
lagos bring this total very little higher.
This is serious thing when It has
been demonstrated beyond doubt that
the greatest possibilities for training
a people in good citizenship lie In the
kindergarten. Tho earlier the seed,
honor are sown the better the cit
sizen. and the fewer the reform schools.
poorhouses and penal institutions.
One can always Point with pardon-
ifornia IN her early, work, for good
1873. Professor Felix Adler. of New
York City. went out to San Francisco
free kindergarten. The idea took apd
kindergartens grew up more rapidly
there than In any other city. Open
hearted people like the Stanfords and
the writer. Kate Douglas wiggin, was
one of the earliest promoters. Record
was kept OF the children from all
walks Of life who entered these kin
dergartens. OF 5000 pupils who at
tended in the first twenty years. only
offender was feeblemtnded and IRE
sponsible. What better eyldenc does
one need Of the preventive measures
the thu, kindergarten offers the s,. country
are concerned? San Francisco soon
made the kindergarten part OF the pub.
lie school system and seeing the Call
fornia success. other Western States
Arizona. adopted like measures.
Other cities have records that com
pare favorab1y with that OF San Fran
cisco. but the universal trouble Is thai
tine cnildren are nor sent early enough
and that there Is not sufficient supply
OF schools and teachers to meet the
growing demands American children
as rule leave school life before
reaching the high schools. In thou
sands of instances they are put t.
work to help support the family. Had
the education begun earlier. character
formation would have been better. and
the years OF primary and high schoo
study would have been more effective
In Chicago less than one-twentieth OF
the high schools. they usually leave al
about thirteen years of age. In st
Louis they leave at fourteen, In Boston
at fifteen.
1t is not only the gospel Of mehta
culture that the kindergartens bring