The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-07-31
Unto The Least of These"
Mrs Bradford Explains How Local Kndergartens Function
Caring for Kenosha's Riddles.

For the past two years the Kinder
gartens have been under the special
supervision Of Miss Jane Vernon, who
! in Sept 1917 returned to Kenosha af-
tier years leave. Her first work in
Kenosha was in the Frank School
where she was Kindergarten director
for six years. Miss Vernon's report
follows:
therein is respectfully submitted to
you the report of the Supervisor Of
Kindergartens, for 191S-1919.
In September 1913, the Kindergar-
tens Of Kenosha opened with an en-
rollment Of approximately $50 children
between the years Of four and six.
Every public school in the city oper-
lated a kindergarten with the exception
Of the Deming. The Balm center con-
Quoted two very crowded kidergartens
throughout the school year.
| After the promotion in February, the
total enrolment numbered sos and
the school year closed with kinder
garten total of 892 children, 385 of
which were promoted to the primary
! department.
| 1t has been the aim Of our kindergar-
tens during the past two years, to work
by means Of freer methods than those
prescribed by the old formal, cut and
dried kindergarten program. We have
come to have more confidence in chill
dren. We have come to believe that
children are the most natural teach
ers of one another, and that proper
environment, with the wise, understand
| ing guidance of trained grown-ups is
their greatest need. Because of this
belief, we have depended to an in
Increasingly greater degree on the initia-
tive and suggestion of the children in
each group. In this way, the efforts
exerted b ythe children have not been
artificially stimulated by the teacher or
Imposed by her - but have been re-
suits of a spontaniety born Of inter-
lest.
We have tried to equip our kinder
gartens to furnish an environment
that would encourage self-expression.
The old, small materials which called
for the use of finer coordination and
were limiting in opportunities for
growth, have given place to large ma
terials which promote the development
Of fundamental centers, and possess
the greatest possibilities for construc-
ton. As far as the budget would per-
NIT, our aim has been to place in each
kindergarten variety Of interesting,
suggestive and educative materials in
order that the children of each group
might have the greatest possible num-
Der and variety of experiences with
concrete things.
1t has been our aim also, to extend
our kindergarten environment to in
clude the things which nature offers 90
Iabundantly to Kenosha children. where
ever the City has found it possible to
cooperate with Nature by setting aside
!public parks and play grounds. Bonds
Woods has done more for the kinder
lgartens within reach of it than all the
--latest and finest formal kindergarten
equipment could ever do - for there
children learn, frst-hand, what books
and man-made things could never
teach. And Kenosna viii offer her chill
dren more places like Bonds Woods
we are building on that faith.
We have also tried to extend our
kindergarten environment to embrace
the homes in the school communities -
and the various other interests and ac-
tivities that make community liv-
ling thing. 1.-THE kindergarten, no
longer means place confined within
four walls where sticks and pegs, sew
ling cards and the like are manipulated