CHAPTER VII.

KINDERGARTENS.

General progress of kindergarten training-Kindergarten training schools-Summary of statistics of kindergartens (Tablo 27)-Sanuary of Statistics of kindergarten training schools (Table 28)-Statis tics of kindergartens (Table 29)-Statistics of kindergarten training schools (Table 30).

There are 544 kindergartens reported to this Office for the present year, with 1,256 instructors and 25,925 children, a considerable increase over the year 185-86.

The majority of kindergartens, whether giving or not giving free tuition, are still supported by private means, only 15 of the whole number being supported by public funds. St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia are the only cities in which kindergartens seem to be firmly established as a part of the public school system.

In January, 1857, the kindergartens, which for several years had been under the care of the Subprimary School Society of Philadelphia, were formally transferred to the board of education, and $15,000 were appropriated for their support. Edward T. Steel, president of the board of education, in accepting the care of these kindergartens in the name of the city of Philadelphia, said: "While I am earnestly in favor of what is known as higher education as à part of the public school system, I believe that it is secondary to the necessity for a perfectly organized system of instruction for the youngest children; and when these kindergartens shall become as extensive as the other grades of our schools--which I believe they will--and manual training (the principle of which is one of the leading features of the kindergarten system) shall be in practice throughout all of our schools, we shall have accempashed the lughest position possible to attain in a system of public education, and have fulfilled a duty in regard to youth which the enlightenment and civilization of, the times demand."

Boston will soon follow the example of Philadelphia. In December, 1887, the committee on examinations made a report on the establishment of kindergartens in connection with the public schools, proposing to adopt the 11 kindergartens now supported by Mrs. Shaw, and recommending an appropriation of $20,000 for the year 1888-59 for the support of these and others in different parts of the city.

Other cities are taking steps in this direction, among them Lynn, Mass.; Hartford and New Haven; Conn.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Ionia and Muskegon, Mich.

The kindergarten is found to be invaluable in schools for the blind, and a very interesting fact indicative of progress in this work is the establishment during the present year of a kindergarten in connection with the Perkins Institution for the Blind at Roxbury, Mass. A fine three-story building, built especially for the purpose with money raised by subscription, largely through Laura Bridgman's efforts, was dedicated in April, 177, with very interesting exercises. Friends of the cause are now soliciting funds for an endowinent, in order to place this department of the institution on a firm foundation.

KINDERGARTEN TRAINING SCHOOL'S.

For the present year there are 49 training schools reported, with 85 instructors and 524 pupils. Eight of these are connected with public normal schools or supported by public funds, and 5 are supported by free kindergarten associations.

The training school under the auspices of the Subprimary School Society of Philadelphia has been given up to the care of the school board and a modein kindergarten connected with it. In September, 17, a school of psychology, embracing a chair in "Psychology of childhood and the selence and art of teaching and kinder gartening," was established, having in connection with it a model kindergarten, primary, and other grades on the Froebel principle and mechod of education.

TABLE 28.- Summary of statistics of kindergarten training schools.

TABLE 29.-Statistics of kindergartens for 1886–87; from replies to inquiries by the United States Bureau of Education.

Los Angeles (Sainsevain Street). Sainsevain Free Kindergarten.

San Francisco (61 Silver Street).
18 San Francisco (1613 Gough St.)
19 San Francisco (64 Silver Street)
20 San Francisco (512 Union St.)
San Francisco (334) Harrison St.)