Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-05-21
Aldermen impressed With
Necessity for Extension Of
Work Among Children.
FOR A CLASS IN EVERY
ONE OF THE SCHOOLS
School Board Has Asked for
$500 to Provide for
Worthy Movement.

A movement Is under way to
arouse public sentiment in favor of
the establishing OF free kindergar-
tens in all the schools next year and
to urge the Board OF Estimate to
grant the appropriation of $4,000
which the school board this year has
placed In its budget as the amount
necessary to do it. The Board of
Education, at It's last meeting, de-
cided on what amount was necessary
to run the schools next year and in
cluded an item Of $2,500 for kinder
gartens The Board of Education
feels that to make the school system
complete there should be free kim
dergartens in each of the buildings
and il the Board of Estimate, when
Its meets next week, allows the APP
preparation they will be established
next term.
Already there has been considera-
BILE interest shown in kindergarten
work In this city and at present
there are two in use, one at school
No. and the other in w. Parker
Runyon's garage. The latter is,
however, connected with school No.
z and is under the jurisdiction of
Superintendent Shull These two
kindergartens are kept up by sub
scription and money from the state,
but are nevertheless free for any
child. although the most parents of
the children who attend the one in
the southern part of the city help
pay the running expenses. If the
Board of Estimate grants the appro-
priation and kindergartens are es-
tablished in the other schools, the
supplies and paraphernalia of the
two now in effect will be turned over
to the Board of Education.
Society at Work,
The members of the kindergarten
society are interested in the present
movement to have them established
In the schools, and have already
done much toward the cause. Bene-
fits have been held In the past to
help carry the expense of the two
in use and the kindergartens so far
have cost the city practically moth
ing, and this is the first time an ap-
preparation has been asked for
Alderman-at-Large Voorhees, and
Alderman Cannon are iy IN
favor Of the project assi wlf6n seen
by a NEWS representative this morn
ing gave their views on the subject
In a very favorable manner.
MFR. Voorhees, Statement.
Mr.. Voorhees, said: HThe Board of
Aldermen is always In favor of any
thing In connection with the public
schools that is practical without
placing too much of a burden on the
taxpayers. Last year we made an
appropriation for manual training.
which | consider one of the most
practical additions that has been
made recently to the school system.
am heartily in favor of the estab-
ltshment of kindergartens as / think
they are even more practical than
manual training They take hold of
the children when they are very
young and start them right for
their later education / would be in
favor OF putting kindergartens in the
schools even though something else
now in effect had to be eliminated.
Furthermore, think that this is
very opportune time" continued
Mr. Voorhees,, "as on account of the
two new schools there will be an
available room in each building for
the kindergarten classes One of the
kindergartens in use now is pa
tronized by the children OF parents
who can well afford to donate some
thing to help pay the expenses of
running it, while II they are es-
tablished in the schools any child
could go without feeling whether it's
parents were poor or well-off.
What Mr.. Cannon Says.
Alderman Cannon, when inter-
viewed, said: Il am very much in
favor of having free kindergartens
as the younger you get a child In
school the better. Just because a
child's parents are poor is no reason
why they should be deprived of the
privilege of attending kindergar-
ten. The advantages of kindergar-
tens should be placed within the
reach of all children that need It."
In conclusion Alderman Cannon
added: Il am only too pleased to be
one of those in a position to help
place the kindergarten advantages
within the reach of children whose
parents are unable to pay for the
same"
The Kindergarten Society is plan
ming to have kindergarten authori-
ming to have an authority on the sub
ject give lecture in the high school
auditorium shortly so that everyone
may attend and learn Just how ur-
gent is the need of free kindergar-
tens in the schools.