The west shore., May 01, 1886, Page 157, Image 18

THE WEST SHORE,
107
of another oolor, first simply learning to put thorn to
gether, and later to make quite intricate designs. Sow.
ing is taught by the same gradual procoas. Tlioy are
also taught forms by the ubo of paper squares, which
they fold as directed into various shapes. Pricking is
another exercise. Paper is given them which is ruled
in squares of about a quarter of an inch. They fiint
learn to prick these with a neodle at tie corners of each
square, then to divide the spaces into ono, two, three,
four, and finally five equal parts. After this they prick
various designs on the squares, first as dictated and
finally of their own invention. The forms produced in
these various ways are classified as " forms of life " and
" forms of beauty," the former consisting of the oasier
and simpler objoots of regular outlines, and the latter of
the more irregular and complex, such as auimals, etc.
It is wonderful how quickly the children learn to mako
quite complicated figures, somo of them displaying much
artistio talent This faculty is especially callod into
play in modeling in clay, which is one of tho most in
teresting exercises. The children aro given a quantity
of plastio day, and are taught to mako various forms,
beginning with a sphere, thou following with culto, cyl
inder, etc. Then from these they aro taught to model
various objects, such as an apple from tho sphere, a to
mato from the cube and a pear from tho cylinder. As
they progress, they make more complex forms, first
from dictation and then of their own designing. Fre
quently a pupil will develop a reniarkablo fondness and
skill in moulding, when in other things he will possibly
be behind others of his age. An iustance was rotated
by a teacher of a scholar in her school iu San Francisco,
who modolod an excellont imitation of an upright piano,
even to the key-board, tho little sculptor being under
four years of age.
It is impossible to give in detail the mnltitudo of
ways in which the child is interested and taught to do
that which benefits him. Each scholar is treated as an
individual, and is mnnagod and taught without any ref
erence whatever to the progress being made by others.
Whenever he has learned to do whatever task has been
given him, he is advanced to the next There is no
Buoh thing as grade or class. The teacher deals with
the individuality of the child and not with a set of chil
dren, as is the system in the publio schools. There is
no rule of conduct nor is thore any settled method of
management The teacher does that for each pupil sep
arately which her experience and knowledge of his tern
perament show her to be the licst for that child per
sonally. In all things politeness, unselfishness and
truthfulness are impressed upon his mind The teach
er's task is an arduous one, and to projwrly ierforin it
she must pass through a long course of instruction and
service as an assistant Kindness, firmness, patience,
experience and dovotion to duty are requisites of a sue
cessful teacher. Thore is no peri.nl in the whole course
of education whon those are more necessary to the
teacher than in this first child-culture in tho kindergar
ten. A visit to one of these infant schools is a surpns-
ing pleasure, and the kindly faces of visitors aro always
welcomed by tho teachers, who feel onconraued to jwr
severe heu proper interest in their work is thus maid
fostod. A year and a half ago a few earnest ladies undertook
tho establishment of a free kindergarten iu Portland,
and succeeded in interesting enough of our citizens in
the project to socuro sulllcient funds with which to lie.
gin tho work. A society was organised ami a school
oionod, tho work being under tho sueriiitendence of
Mrs. Caroline Dunlap, who brought to the task a veal
and experience which have achieved grand results. Ono
year ago, at the first meeting of the society, tho siiior.
intendont reported one school, fifty-two pupils, one reg.
ular teacher and a nunilier of volunteer assistants.
From that time on the number of pupils increased so
rapidly that new teachers, and finally new school became
uoccsHary. Tho city was canvassed by the ladies to pro.
cure means to carry oil the work, and a large immlior
gave their aid and encouragement by joining the associ
ation and contributing monthly dues. The result of the
year's work is gathered from the rejsirt of the siiperin.
tendeut, made at the annual meeting held tho twentieth
of April. Thero are now three schools, five teachers and
ono hundred and twenty-one pupils. Kindergarten No,
1 is located on (1 street, Mween Thirteenth and Four
teenth. It has sixty-one pupils enrolled, and is under
tho charge of Miss Story, assisted by Miss Caldwell.
No, 2 is located in tho Unitarian Mission ehasil, on
Porter street, and has forty children, under the earn of
Miss Ahull, assisted by Mrs, Hitiiisou, No, .') is situated
in Watson' Addition, where Miss (loldman has charge
of twenty pupils.
'l1io auMrintendent' rcsirt conclude a follows:
Several lxtnovolcut ieople have given mo money from
time to time, which ha lsn oxNnded iu tho purchase,
of shoes and under-ltunnels for the most newly of our
pupils; and Mr, llurrcll is making it one of her especial
charities to send a kindergarten missionary among the
most unfortunate families in South Portland. A mini
bor of children who were formerly beyond our reach,
havo, by this means, Isien gathered in, and we hoieooii
to have every child fur whom the free kindergarten is
intended, within its fold In conclusion, I must correct
an error which has prevailed in regard to these kinder,
garteus charging tuition. Home of the parent have
joined the association and paid their monthly due, and
some have made occasional ojmtrilmtions to the kinder
gartens; but these are donations and not tuition, and
must not lie so considered. The poorer the child the
more welcome he is. I only wish the children of the
rich could be as welcome, and that every child could
havo the benefit of these institutions.
The treasurer's rexrt showed receipts amounting to
tl,fi-".4'J, and disbursement UMDl, leaving araidi
balance of fill 11 The officer and director were
unanimously re-elected, with the exception of Mrs. 0.
IL Atkinson and Mr. J nine Failing, who desired to be
relieved. Mr. IL 1L Northup and Mr. U. 0. (ismmaua