Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-05-20
atssSS 49, 4 - ) tg.4 =! - SaIs - =.
NJ lDs OF little. L.
|!Ks ASSEMBLE
antsal Il Meeting Of Free
Kindergarten Asso-
citation Held.
4 LARGE AUDIENCE.
a LARGE AUDIENCE,
DIR. P. P. Claxton, Commissioner of
Education Makes Plea For Child.
ren-songs and Stories Please.

The meeting last evening at th'
Young Peoples Building of the Alex
andria Free kindergarten Associa
tion was well attended an dthe spiri
of the meeting was enthusiastically
entered into by those who were pres
ent.
The program was preceded by ths
reports of Che officers of the .Associa
tion. The President, Mrs. Matthew
O'Brien read most interesting re-
port of the work concluding with the
subscription of the Alexandria Kin.
dergarten to the memorial Of Froebe
in appreciation of what mis- founding
means to these little ones as well a;
the millions of other children, in
starting their eager feet ON the
proper road of life's journey. Mr.
Robert S. Jones read the report OF
the secretary, Miss Loula Smoot
following with Mr.. Jones' report as
treasurer.
Twenty graduates of the Normal
School, of Washington, lead by Miss
Keen sang a number OF Kinder
garten selections, showing how beau
tifully interesting nature is taught
to the pupils in appealing to their
hearts as we'll as to their minds.
Miss Watkins, general supervisor
of the Washington kindergarten,
addressed ,;.the audience ano gave
clear statistics in regard to the en-
pense in undertaking the work
She showed by satisfactory compar-
ison of the expense of the primary
garded the exaggerated idea that eX-
listed.
One of the most attractive num-
bers of the evening was the "Story
of Billy Bodkins," as told by Miss
Brown, illustrated by paper cut-outs
which brought forth EXPLANATIONS
from the children in the audience.
The grown-ups, present knew that
each little child-heart that ever list
ened to just such kind ia play-les-
son would plead, "tell it again"
A second series of songs was rend-
cred by the kindergarten graduates
and their
Goods in the Heaven
Als right with the World
brought forth genuine applause.
DR.. P. P. Claxton, Commissioner
of the Bureau Of Education, of
Washington, was introduced by Mr..
Jones. His address was most con-
vincing, proving how little value
everything in the world was without
the knowledge to use it correctly
and to the best advantage. In the
present science of the conservation
of all things useful, why not consider
the most important of all-the con-
servation of the activity of child
hood. Our responsibility fulfilled of
startling the yearning heart and in
ouisistive mind Alright means the
betterment of the whole universe,
AS proof of this, Mr.. Claxton stated
that no one of Kindergarten train,
ing had ever been confined in jail
In the training of the Kindergartnel
is found the most uplifting of al
trainers and, therefore of much ben,
eft to all humanity. No amount OF
money, garnered by an anxious par
ent for presentation to a child IN ma
turer years, can compensate for
lack Of joy during the period O.
childhood-as that JOY is the founda
tion of his or her 7life's career. There
ofre, he said, give the little one tn
JOY of activity and not the sadneS
of idleness.
At the conclusion of the iectur
the following directors were electeo
Mrs. John Leadbeater, Mrs. Gar
ence Keith, Mrs. L. E. Uhler, Mrs.
Chas. P. Lindsey, Mrs. Carroll Pierce
Miss Fanny Burke, Miss Constanc
Boush, Miss Elizabeth Slaymakel
Miss Mary E. Carlin, Miss Lul
Smoot, Miss Anna M. Roberts, Mr.:
NJ. w. O'Brien, Mr.. R. S. Jones, Nj
r. M. Green, Mr.. A. l.. Jameson an
Mr.. Worth Hulfsh. At the next reg
ular meeting of the board of directo,
officers to serve the ensuing year wi
elected.