Downy - Alice opens kindergarten - Putnam

Miss Alice Downey has opened a kindergarten school in Dr. Tingley’s room in the old University building which is attended by about 35 pupils.  This is a new feature in Greencastle schools and one that out to receive the heartiest support from our citizens. The teacher is an accomplished young lady, thoroughly in earnest and devoted to her chosen work and if her efforts are properly seconded will be a great blessing to the little children.  This system of teaching originated in Germany.  Instead of the usual method, the instruction is imparted by means of games, songs and entertaining mechanical work, that interest and instruct the child, better than to suppress its buoyancy and develop its stubbornness and aversion to dry theory and uninteresting facts that are committed in memory only to be forgotten. The schools begins at 8 o’clock and ends at 11 each forenoon.