The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-19
GROWTH AND WORK OF CHURCH OF ADVENT'S
 FREE KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten Fast Becoming Center of Activities for the
 Neighborhood
Social Service Department By MRS. SIDNEY M. ULLMAN

My equipment is ideal, and get everything I ask for.' was the astound- ing statement made by Miss Ella Charls, the kindergartener at the Church or the Advents free kindergartden.
 For the first time in the history of this department and probably for the first time in the experience of any so- cial worker in this city, we found a place that had all 1t needed, equipment money, situation, cooperation, etc, and this was indeed statement that brought balm, here at last we had found an in spiration, and dream come true. Some where in Birmingham the conditions for the social worker was ideal.
 Miss Ella Charls is quite the ideal per- son herself, the personification of life worth living. With spirit she demands the obedience of "her babies," but in re- turn gains their love, with intelligence she directs their efforts, but also gains their cooperation, and originality. She is their chum first and teacher after ward.
 Miss Charls is a comparative stranger in the city, having come from Cincinnati in the early fall to take charge of the
  Advent kindergarten. She was educated in Cincinnati and afterward did social work and teaching at the St. Paul Par ochial school of that city, after that go- ing to Minnesota, where she taught in private church school.
 The kindergarten at the Advent was the direct outcome of the inability of the public schools to carry on their kin dergarten work. The parish house of Tered an excellent opportunity for such work, being ideally situated, and now after the fall and winter work bids fair as is the hope of the church, to become a social center for the North Side com n.uriity.
 Already the kindergarten has. become lively pivot of activities-75 children have been enrolled during the session The transient neighborhood makes the attendance fluctuate, however, the aver age daily attendance Is apour 50 chill dren
 Mothers meetings are held regularly eiving an added incentive to- have the little ones attend. These meetings are a great advantage to tho mother and child and make a bond of friendship in the life of the school. Miss Charls has found the mothers respond readily when the children make up the entertainment with their own work. At these meetings talks to the mothers are given on hy- giene and the proper care of the chill dren's dress. diet and teeth.
 Miss Charls in speaking of the daily routine of the school said:
 Our day opens with silent morning prayer, when every little eye Is sup. posed to be closed, and the room per- fectly quiet, and oh, how hard they have fro fa1,i ,iy,cr thoi nelghbor and what temptation there is to tell that Billie was talking or Mary was tapping her feet, but if the child is asked how he knew this had hap pened-there must also follow the awful acknowledgement that his eyes were opened. Gradually the msbehnavior has the room himself for none of the others would dare peep now, so the little one is taught self control. After prayer comes conversation period, and now they all want to talk at the same time. How much they have to say, each bursting with news. Why, teacher didn't know we had brushed our teeth, and we didn't drink coffee for breakfast. Here we see how quickly the shy and bashful child, as he sees the others enthusiasm wants to tell all he knows"
 One mother came to the kindergarten and said to Miss Charls as the talks to the children about their diet had made such an impression, wouldn't she please discuss the hour they should all retire. So they all had great fun guess ing the time they had all closed their eyes for sleep the night before. The next day each child wanted to tell the hour the sand man came
 "As soon as child enters the school she or he is made to feel perfectly at home" she said. "The idea is to try and have no little stranger. As the new pu- pil comes in the children are respon-