Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-02
kindergarten Pupils Entertain
Convention Delegates in Ma
tionaI Museum Grounds.
DANCE TO THE MUSIC
OF u. S. MARINE BAND
Closing Session of international
Union This Evening-Trip to
Mount Vernon Tomorrow.

| Childhood reigned supreme today in
the National Museum grounds and mere
| grown-ups bowed to its rule. More than
1,4oO Washington kindergarten children
| weaved dances and games into their an
nuaI festival before an audience made up
| of school officials. fond parents and dele
gates TO the International kindergarten
Union. being part of the program for
the entertainment of the convention now
/ being held here.
/ Bright and clean in spic and span
clothes. the children from the kinder
| gartens OF the District played for more
than two hours on the new spring grass
| to lively music supplied by the Marine
| Band and under the direction of the
| principals and principals assistants.
Happy over getting out into the air on
| the grass, the youngsters displayed as
much life as did the squirrels that were
| chased from their usual haunts.
Miss Catharine r. Watkins. director of
| the Washington kindergartens. was in
general charge of the festival. and Miss
Florence r. Keene stood at the side of
the leader of the Marine Band and direc-
| ed the music for the songs, dances and
games. The children from each kinder
garten were under the direction of their
| teachers All behaved wonderfully well.
Outer and Inner Circles.
| The games were played in two circles,
one large and one smaller, marked out
with small American flags. The small
| circle was within the bigger one, and in
side the smaller one was the band, with
DR.. William Davidson, superintendent OF
schools: Henry p. Blair, president, and
other memoirs of the board OF education;
A. I. Stuart. director Of primary educa-
| ton and other school officials.
Outside the larger circle were arranged
| chairs for delegates to the International
/ Kindergarten Union and tie parents of
the children. 1t developed that there were
not chairs enough to go round, and many
stood. The festival was larger and more
elaborate than any ever held in Wash
ington before. and the audience was
larger. The festival was held in the Ma
tional Museum Park, between the New
sonian building.
| The children reported to their schools
| In various parts of the city promptly at
| 8 o'clock. and almost Immediately set
sonian grounds. They were from all
| directions. and made beautiful sight
| as they streamed across the park toward
the fag-encircled Fairgrounds The en-
| tertainment began promptly at 10 o'clock.
Opened with a bugle call, the little
people formed in twos and marched
| around to form the two circles. just
inside the lines of silk flags. First the
| outside ring was formed, and then the
inside Then all sang the Ring Song
| composed by Miss Patty Hill OF New
York, who was present as delegate
to the international kindergarten con-
| vention.
| The games followed. All the kinder
same time. Then followed in quick sue
cession skipping game. rocking
horse" little playmate. dance with
me" flying birds" the nest fly,
little BIRDS and flying birds" In
flying birds" all the children danced
about in circles, tapping their wings"
and initiating birds in artistic fashion.
THE Nest was written by Miss Susan
Blow Of New York, who was also pres
| ent.
Stunts" Not in Program.
| Following these seven games there was
\ a short intermission, during which the
| children did stunts" not on the program,
but always under the supervision Of their
teachers. The Marine Band played
Gounods anvil Chorus Schumann's
| "Traumerei." and Offenbach's ''Barca-
role" especially for the little folks.
| The second part of the festival opened
with two fiourlsnes Of the bugle TO reas-
semDie the cniioTcn III lHeiI places lnis
time "oats. peas. beans and barley
i grows" 1.-The see-saw," brownies cat
erpillars and butterflies" and soldier
boy were played. and a minuet was
ranged by Miss Alys Bentley of the
| Washington kindergartens. The children
/ played all these games to their own great
| enjoyment, and to the delight OF the spec
| tators.
The Soldier boy" game was the most
impressive OF all. Singing Soldier boy
| soldier boy. where are you going?" the
pupils of each kindergarten formed In
| groups under the leadership OF 1.-The sol
der boy" saluting the flags meanwhile
| The game was closed with an impressive
tableau. during which all the boys and
girls sand America" while standing. Thi:
was the end and the children were dis
| missed.
Following the play festival the dele
gates to the international kindergarten
convention. with DR.. Davidson, Mr.
Stuart and other District school officials
were guests OF the Washington Kinder
garten Association at an elaborate lunch
con at the Raleigh Hotel. More than 400
| people sat down to luncheon. Favor
| able comment on the play festival was
the principal topic Of conversation.
discussion Of the Montessori methods
of teaching kindergarten work was SEIZED
uled for the session of the internationa
kindergarten convention at the New Ma
tional Museum this afternoon. Man,
teachers Of kindergarten like the olde
Froebel methods better. and animated
clashes were expected to develop. Tn,
| Montessori methods were to be formal,
discussed by DR.. Myron T. Scudder o
New York, DR.. Lightner Wilmer Of tn,
University Of Pennsylvania and DIR. VIII
liam Fitzpatrick OF the teachers college
Columbia University, New York.
1 Closing Session Tonight.
Tonight the closing formal session o
the convention will be held at the Me
mortal Continental Hall. with the CHILD
the topic for discussion. Miss Julia La
throp, chief OF the United States fedora
childrens bureau. is to tell of her work
and Dr. Scott Nearing of the Universit,
of Pennsylvania is to speak on 9TH
Child; Social Asset or Liability"
The convention delegates will visi
Mount Vernon by boat tomorrow leaving
the wharf at 10 o'clock. On the boat tn
: delegates will be the guests at a luncheon
served by the kindergarten Club OF Bal
timore.
, Interesting round table discussions an,
! several social features occupied the tim
8 of the delegates yesterday afternoon an,
evening. Round table discussions of gifts
stories and games were held during tn
afternoon at the j. Ormond Wilson Nor
NAL School. Miss Mary c. ShLte OF Bos
ton presided at the round table, and Mis-
Caroline ID. Aborn Of Boston and Mis-
Luella Palmer of New York participate,
in the discussion.