Seattle's Free Kindergarten Prepares to Open Its Doors

The Seattle Free Kindergarten is now established in quarters given by the school board and will begin its first session on Tuesday, September 4, at the old South School, on Main Street between Fifth and Seventh. The association's members have been encouraged by the interest shown and by donations of material and labor toward repairing the building. The building is well located, surrounded by small homes full of children who will have the privileges of the school. It contains two large, well-lighted and ventilated rooms and two halls, one for a cloak room and one for a toilet room. The association has cleaned and renovated it thoroughly: new floors throughout, fresh paint and paper, plaster repairs, window mending, a sewer connection, and much rough work in putting the grounds in order. Members of the Salvation Army helped, some giving their time for half pay; other laborers worked for reduced wages. The plumbing bill was reduced by special rates and donations from the John Schram Company and the Denny Clay Company, and by special rates from Rustad & Co. Lumber was furnished at reduced rates, as were paper and paper hanging, paint by Whittier, Fuller & Co., and glass by Neile & Engelbrecht.

The association has met all bills promptly and still has some money in the treasury, but not enough to carry on the work successfully. Working expenses must be met by monthly pledges and gifts. Membership is only $1 a year; $25 paid at one time makes an adult a life member, and $15 makes a child under 15 a life member. More members, especially life members, are wanted. There are no monthly dues, but monthly pledges are received, now amounting to only a small sum, in gifts ranging from 10 cents, given by two little boys, to $15, given by the W.C.T.U. Expenses cannot be met on less than $75 a month; $100 a month is required to do good work. Contributions may be addressed to the president at 1111 Beacon Street, or the secretary at 130 South Twelfth Street. The officers give their time without pay, and all money is devoted to brightening the lives of little children.

The teacher is Miss Ellen Creelman of San Francisco, a graduate of the California kindergarten training school there. She has taken a postgraduate course under Mrs. Kate Douglass Wiggin and Miss Nora Smith, and has had special training in physical culture and music; with five years' experience, she is fitted to teach the kindergarten and to lead the training school the association hopes to establish. Miss Creelman received the highest recommendations from Miss Smith and from Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper. The training school will open at the same time and place for those who wish to prepare for the profession; it is not free, the association believing earnest students will be willing to pay. The executive committee met Friday at the secretary's residence with Miss Creelman, and decided the length of the term and the tuition fee. Applicants are asked to apply at once; Miss Creelman will be at home afternoons and evenings this week at the residence of the secretary, Mrs. C. E. DeHurst, 130 South Twelfth Street.