Evening journal., 1910-10-27
PLAY ESSENTIAL
TO CHILD GROWTH
Kindergarten Makes Point
at First Meeting in In
tereSt of Little Folks
TOTS MAKE MERRY ON
RUBBISH Uttered LOTS

A Mothers and Kindergarten teach
ers meeting was held yesterday after
noon at the training school. This is
the first of what the fourteen kinder
garten teachers of the city are hop
ing to make series of meetings to
consider kindergarten principles, and
10 arouse interest in securing kinder
gartens as part of the public school
system. Mrs. A. R. Spaid presided, and
introduced the first speaker. Miss Jen-
ME Weaver, kindergarten and resi-
dent worker at the West End Reading
Room, and superintendent of the city
Fairgrounds during the summer
Miss Weaver spoke of the idea that
play was essential to the growth of
the child. not merely a good way of
passing the time until he grew old
enough to work She said that the
kindergarten was a place between the
home and the school. At home the
child could not have undivided atten-
tion from the busy adults. as he had
i'm the kindergarten. He learns how to
use his eyes, ears, and brains, and is
prepared for primary school life. He
learns by contact with other children
and his teacher. he learns to play fair
and he takes home these lessons to
children in the neighborhood. Miss
Weaver said that mothers have testi-
fed to the overcoming of shyness and
development of resourcefulness in
their children. She also stated that Of
the fourteen private kindergartens in
the city, ten were in sense public;
that is they wre supported by private
eubgcription but the children came
without charge.
Professor Spaid Advocates System.
Professor A. r. Spaid, county SUI
perintendent, was the second speaker.
He quoted the law to show that the
establishment of public kindergartens
in the city by the Board of Education
would be legal He said that the Board
of Education could not do anything
that would add more to the attractive
ness of school life or be more assist
ance to the primary teachers. Profess
sor Spaid spoke of the kindergarten
established by the county at Newark.
He said that since there was such a
tendency to cut down the age at which
children were under the compulsory
attendance law, he thought it would
not be a bad idea for them TO start in
earlier.
Professor Spaid said the kindergar-
ten idea. of taking the children when
Lle1 were Alc6ns anu AClldI6 eAChA ~
when tired was making itself felt
through all the grades. He thought 1t
would be an improvement on the COM
pulsory law If the childrenrwere made
to attend all the school year, and dis
missed in the afternoons to do needed
work for their parents. He deprecated
the allowing of young boys to drive
wagons, and other occupations in
which they and others we're endanger-
ed by their incapacity.
Mud Holes as Play Grounds.
Professor Spaid showed a number
of stereopticon views. First of VIII
mington Fairgrounds not down on tbs
lists. People have said. Why dom
children play on the vacant lots?" 81
he showed a few, with piles of rub
bish, filthy drains, open sewers, mud
where crowds of children actually die
play, and where disease germs
abounded. He told of the Delawarei
mascot goat, which loved paper, bu
would not touch any that the men hal
chewed, while on Market street he haG
seen boys of eleven years putting IL
their mouths, half-smoked cigarettes
Professor Spaid then showed pleas
anter views of the city and Philadel
phia Fairgrounds, and closed the ad
dress by showing some fine views o
Brandywine Park.
There was a large attendance, ant
the teachers feel encouraged with tn
interest taken in the movement.