Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-27
GIVE CHILDREN
THEIR RIGHTS IN
RIGHT EARLY TRAINING

According 10 recent statement
made by p. p. Claxton, L. s. Commits
sioner of Education, there has been
more progress in the establishment of
kindergartens in the cities, towns and
industrial villages of the country dur
ing the last six or seven years than in
any previous period of equal length.
Approximately $40 kindergartens We're
opened last year in public schools that
never had them before. which means
one extra year OF education for about
$4,000 children, and as the boys and
girls OF our country average only 5.23
years in school the value OF this ad-
ditional training cannot be overesti-
mated.
a number of state, inspired by the
achievement OF California in 1913, are
trying TO secure kindergarten legisla-
ton. In some states the bin is sup
ported by the State Teachers Associa-
ton, in others by the Congress OF
Mothers. A similar campaign Of edu-
cation, with legislation in view, is be
ing undertaken in Maine. sponsored by
the Maine Federation Of Women's
Clubs OF the 32.3Q0 children in the
state. between four and SIX years, the
Bureau OF Education at Washington
reports that less than 1900 are in the
kindergarten. TO give these small
girls and boys the training that can be
had in kindergarten is the aim OF the
promoters OF this form Of legislation.
and it is one Of the greatest services
for child welfare that the women of
any state can undertake.
The kindergarten is a school with
out books, but it is z school for that
human experience which undcrlies all
books. If child has nothing to read
with. If he has no underlying expert
ence, he will get nothing from book.
The adult reads and sees and hears
only with his life's experiences, and the
public is slowly awakening to the ne
ccssity of charging the scope of a
child's interests, enlarging his. life's
experiences, Through the natural,
happy, ways Of play, by means Of a
method within the child's ability, the
kindergarten starts the little one be-
tween four and six on his sometimes
difficult journey of gaining experience,
implanting in him, at the same time,
principles and ideals which will enable
him to meet to better advantage the
There are, today, in the State of Maine,
hundreds of young men and women
who are beginning their life work un-
trained, inefficient and too often poor
lly equipped morally to meet the
temptations and struggles before them
because of lack of proper. systematic
training in the habit-forming age.
The Kindergarten is place where
the ideals of true American citizenship
are impressed at so early period that
the results must be lasting. The kin
dergarten is a place where the child
learns to live comfortably and happily
with other people. He comes to I'M
derstand the principle of social re-
sponsibility. for example-that he has
no right to grab q block or board from
another child simply because he wants
it. He receives training in independ-
ence and self help, and the Il want 10
be minded" notion gradually disap-
pears.
Hon. Payson Smith. recently State
Supt. of Schools of Maine, says: This
institution the kindergartens more
than any other, has stood for the sound
principle, that education deals prim-
arily with the growth and develop
ment of the child. 1t has done
more than any other institution to
make our methods of education con-
form with the natural laws which gov
crn human growth. Certainly nothing
can be of greater importance than that
all children should have the advantage
of right start in their institutional
education. 1 shall hope to hear that
throughout the State (of Maine) there
will be renewed interest in the estab-
lishment of kindergartens for all chill
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