The New Kindergarten System Arrives in Yakima
Two educators arrive from San Francisco to establish a 'play-based' school, promising a radical shift away from rote memorization.
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Among the various systems of child education now in vogue, no one has attained the high standard of the kindergarten. Recently, the Misses Blake and Johnston arrived from San Francisco to organize a kindergarten in this city. The kindergarten system, founded by Frederick Froebel, operates on the motto: 'Come let us live with our children.' Instead of confusing a child with meaningless words, the method intimately associates action with the world. Occupations are called 'plays' and materials are 'gifts.' Movement plays alternate with gymnastics and vocal exercises, and wherever weather permits, activities are carried out in the garden. Through this, the child becomes acquainted with the external world in a way that is entertaining and memorable. It is the aim of these educators to reach the child as early in life as possible, as childhood is the most sacred period. The school currently seeks stable funding through subscriptions, noting that the system is one of the most perfect in existence.
“The idea in brief is, not to confuse the child with a series of meaningless words but to intimately associate action on the part of the child with similar action of the outside world.”
This reflects the late 19th-century educational reform movement that paved the way for modern early childhood education. Today, the debate over play-based vs. academic-focused preschools remains a core tension in American education.
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