The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-09-11
KINDERGARTEN
TEACHERS SHOULD
STUDY IN SUMMER
Alice Temple Criticises Rich
mond School Board for
Failure to Send EN- Away.

Richmond is sadly in need OF "ef-
ficient kindergarten-primary supervis-
ion" according to the report of sur.
vey of the schools recently conducted
by Alice Temple, educational expert
In her report which has just been
published by the University OF Chlca-
go Press, she criticizes the board OF
education for not making 1t possible
for teachers in the kindergartens here
to follow some course of study in the
summer months which would greatly
increase their efficiency.
The survey was conducted here In
January and February and all of the
schools were visited. Some points she
praises while some of the methods
are severely critised.
"Summer Study Necessary"
THE reconstruction Of kindergarten
practice makes summer study neces-
sary," the report says. while all the
kindergartners Of Richmond have had
at least three years of professional
training they finished that training,
with one exception, from nine to sew
enteen years ago. During the last ten
to fifteen years the reconstructlve
movement within the kindergarten has
made rapid progress.
This movement, due largely to the
influence of criticism Of the kinder
garten made by experts in the broader
fields Of education, is naturally most
evident in the kindergarten depart
ments of the progressive normal
schools and universities
Many Undergraduates therefore who
had their training several years ago
have felt the need for further study
at one Of these institutions to keep
pace with the best developments in
kindergarten practice. The Richmond
kindergartners would doubtless be
glad OF the opportunity to pursue such
a course Of study during summer ses-
sion. It can hardly be asked of them
under the present salary schedule,
however, although the latter is good
as compared to that of neighboring
states.
Should Send EN- to School.
1T would pay the board of educa-
ton to make 1t possible for one or
more of the teachers to spend part of
their summer in study. There are a
number of school systems which make
it a practice to send some of their
teachers to school each summer pay.
ing part or all of their expenses"
Richmond needs efficient kinder
garten-primary supervision. With an
efficient supervisor the Richmond kin
dergartens would be capable of modi-
flying and reconstructing their methods
to conform with the best type of mod,
ern practice"
The report is begun with the history
of the establishment of the first kin
dergarten school in the city, between
1880 and 1890. Richmond was the sec
ond city in the state to give public sup
port to the kindergarten.
Richmond may we'll be proud Of the
way in which it has for so many years
provided for it's children of kindergar
ten age" the report says. Total en-
rollment in the kindergartens on Janu.
airy of this year was 2S5 which is
eighty percent of the estimated num-
Der of pupils entering school each
year. Thirty percent Of the children
are foreigners it is estimated.
The social atmosphere in the kin
dergartens is very wholesome and the
relation between children and teach
ers is all that could be desired