The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-06-06
EXCELLENT WORK
FOR CHILDREN
PLAYGROUND PROVES IT'S USE.
FULNBss IN FIRST
MONTH.
tFrom salaraayis Aaverllserl

(From Saturdays Advortiser.l
Gathered In the main room Of the
Muriel kindergarten, the one bright
spot in that sea Of squalidncss known
rs the Kakaako slums, the members OF
the Free kindergarten and Children s
Aid Society listened to number Of en-
couraging reports yesterday morning
and had the added pleasure Of watch
ing the presentation Of diplomas to
three recently graduated kindergarten
teachers, young ladies who have spent
two years in preparing themselves to
carry ON the good work among the
swarming children of the tenements.
The Muriel kindergarten, erected by
Mrs. Richards inmemory of her little
daughter, after whom the school is
named is decidedly attractive school,
clean, airy and beautifully fitted up, an
example in sanitation and cleanliness
needed in Kakaako and at the present
time in the neighborhood conspicuous
| in its daintiness. Here were heard the
reports of the progress Of the kinder
! garten work in the other sections of
the city and the reports of what is be-
ing attempted and done for the chill.
,drep outside the regular school prem
Uses.
Playground Work.
Part cularly encouraging for the
workers was the report made by the
chairman of the Fairgrounds commit
tee in connection with the marked sue
cess that has attended the opening OF
the children's corner at Smith and
Beretania streets. This playground has
been open for only a few weeks, yet
already it has been boon to the chill
dren of that neighborhood. During the
month of May there was an average
daily attendance of two hundred and
thirty-One children, the total for the
month being 1857. On MAY only
ninety-four little ones appeared to
enjoy the swings and the sandboXes,
the grass and the shade; May % called
out the record crowd, there being five
hundred and forty children playing on
the ground that morning and afternoon.
In many instances the children are ac-
eompanied by their mothers, who rest
on the benches, or bring ttt,r needle
work and enjoy the freshness while
their babies play, secure from ioy-rid-
ing autos and the other perils of the
street.
The playground IS looked after by
a ianitor and a competent matron, who
keeps on hand simple remedies and
salves and bandages, which are used on
the little ones as occasion require.
There is also soap and water on hand
and first aids to the dirty are given.
The children are taught to take care
of themselves and to keep compare
lively clean, as well as being taught
how to play.
Knowing how to play is something
, which should be spontaneous in chill
dren, but with the mites of the tene.
ment district it is not--more the pity.
As consequence the little visitors to
the playground have to be taught the
very elements of childish games.
Moving Picture Improvement
During the meeting there was dis.
r cussion of the effect of the moving pic.
{ ture shows upon the children, the con.
census of opinion being that there had
/ been marked Improvement in the quail.
/ ity of the moving pictures shown dur
inS INC past bMo hohIhs' ~ was sJdteu
that the various vaudeville stunts
. could be improved from the mora
5 standpoint particularly in the matter
? of popular songs.
The Graduates.
= The kindergarten graduates to re
ceive diplomas were Miss Marie Haef
ner, Miss Vera Damon and Miss Eva
Boardman. Miss Lawrence made 9
short address to the graduates on pre-
Q senting them with their certificates OF
Q proficiency and Rev. Frank Damon
t also spoke.
Yesterdays meeting of the associa
t ton will be the last until the mex
Z; school session, in September.
$ man LnnnINTlHTNTr