Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1932-10-06
Kindergarten Will
Require Local Aid

While only a general survey of the
possibilities for a public kindergarten
for Vashon-Maury Island has been
made, and whether or not it will ma
terialize, 1t is felt that possibly there
has been a lack of definite informa-
| ton given to the public at large. The
matter has been thoroughly discussed
in the meetings of the Priesthood As
ISOLATION and in number of meet
ings of interested parties, but the
News-Record has been remiss in put
ting the facts in the case before its
readers.
The value of the kindergarten is UNI
deniable. Much Of the first year, with
the average first grade child must be
spent in becoming acquainted with
and adapted to new conditions, where
as if the child has had chance in
the kindergarten to become used to
the new problems of school attend
ance when he enters first grade in
stead of wasting time in getting ready
to get down to business he knows
what it is to fit in with group and
to become part of it, The average
five year old is ready for some syste-
matte work which the average home
does not provide. He is bored by being
treated as baby, yet has had no ex-
periences to qualify as he will when
he starts to school. The transition is
too sharp and time is wasted in the
first grade.
In order to secure a kindergarten
in rural community such as ours it
is necessary for a district of the
second class to sponsor the movement.
Vashon District 176) is the only dis
trict of this class and the board of
directors has consented to sponsor an
Island kindergarten. They limit their
responsibility to giving teacher
contract for ST, placing the job of
providing funds making all arrange
ments, ETC., on the Pre-School AS
ISOLATION.
A room is available in the high
school. A thoroughly trained kinder
garten teacher has agreed to teach for
ridiculously low wage for the first
year The big problem is transporta-
ton, as the regular school buses are
so crowded that they cannot accom-
modate any more. The problem of
transportation would have to be work
ed out by the mothers of the children
attending this year, but funds for gas,
and oil must be provided for.
No state aid would be available for
public kindergarten for the first
year of operation An attendance
record is the basis upon which the
amount of money from state funds
can be figured and in order to have
an attendance record the kindergarten
must be in operation by virtue of
tuition or donated funds for the first
year or part of a year. A careful
study of the situation locally shows
that the work could be carried on for
as little as fifty-five or sixty dollars
per month. A part of this would have
to be through the generosity of the
Island people. The objection has been
made that times are hard, and that
there is need for every penny for
necessities. There are more than sixty
persons on this Island who could spare
81 per month to give wonderful OPP
portunity to group of children,
number of whom have little oppor-
tunity in their home for obtaining
them preparation so vital for the
youngster entering public school for
the first time. 1t does not take a
stretch of imagination to figure this
out for ones self. Or If 81 per month
is too much then so cents subscribed
each month to this fine cause would
help. In case one did not care to be
bothered with sending contribution
monthly then the contribution could
be made in lump sum.
Just how the final details for
financing the Island kindergarten will
eventually be worked out remains to
be seen. All that the committee is
asking now is that the Island people
give the subject serious thought. Let
those whose babies are still, too young
for kindergarten think Of 1t in the
light of the future; let those whose
babies are past the kindergarten think
Of their contribution as thank offer
ing that their children are safely past
babyhood, while those who have not
children must be content with the
realization that in helping others
children they are doing real service.