The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-29
OPPOSES THE KINDERGARTEN.
Spartanburg School Superintendent
Talks Of Trip to Virginia.

Spartanourg, July 22.-Superin-
tendent Evans is at home again after
spending three weeks In Norfolk in
charge Of an institute for teachers who
came from several of the neighboring
counties. There was an enrolment Of
about $50. but the average attendance
was not more than 125. Very few
male teachers were present. When
asked how tide-water Virginia teach
ers compared with those Of this State,
he said the average was about up to
the same number selected from towns
In thirty or forty miles Of Spartan
burg. but they were not equal to the
Spartanburg teachers. He also found
that they paid more attention to the
Kindergarten work In schools than Is
done In this State. Capt. Evans being
interested In that work and not seeing
much benefit from IL as managed
here. catechised the teachers as to it's
value. At first some Of them did not
care to discuss 1t. They had accepted
II as part Of the system. and "sys-
TENS" are always hard propositions
TO contend with. He secured some
opinions. however. from the better
teachers. and this Is about the result
Of kindergarten work in Virginia.
The children coming from the
homes to the public schools are bet
ter pupils than those coming from
the kindergartens. They are quicker
to take hold of the work in the pri-
many classes and they do II better.
When child stays In kindergarten
two or three years 1t has formed the
habit Of school play and 1t is more
dihicult to break them in to regular
work
The best common school children
come from the homes OF the well-to-
do people. Capt. Evans thinks that
there Is no place for these nursery
schools In the Piedmont. unless It be
In some Of the mill villages. where
few children, four to six years, living
In very poor homes. with no one to
watch them, might be better OF In a
comfortable room. where they could
be entertained and have all physical
wants supplied.
The kindergarten was intended by
the founders for the children Of the
very poor. who lacked soap and water
as we'll as careful attention at home.
They are supposed to be left alone for
hours while parents are at work for
bread. To such the kindergarten Is a
most helpful institution. The others
are the rich parents who have had all
the instincts OF parental love dried up
by the demands Of false and pernic-
lous society. We do not have. that
class In this State and II is hardly
worth thought. Take II all in all,
Capt. Evans thinks that there is little
need Of kindergartens in this State,
and II Is altogether impracticable In
the country districts. Instead of be-
Ing an aid to the common schools, 1t /
Is rather disadvantage. He thinks
that II would not be wise for school
boards or legislatures to appropriate
money for the work.
Capt. Evans Is one Of the superin-
tendents from this State selected to
visit the schools of Continental Eu-
rope this fall. His present plan Is to
leave Philadelphia about the middle
Of October and return in six or eight
weeks. He will have time to organize
the city schools before he leaves, and
some OF the principals have been here
several years. which will insure the
best management.