HCR47JUN17

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 17, 2005

House Concurrent Resolution 47 commending the establishment on College Point, New York of the first free public kindergarten in the United States.

BRIEF

What may be the first official social experience for most Americans, kindergarten was created as a way for a successful entrepreneur in 1868 New York to give back to the community in which he was successful.

Conrad Poppenhusen, from Germany, built a factory and the spent $100,000 to build a school for the immigrant community that supported his manufacturing efforts. But it was an adult night school that he first created. Kindergarten came about two years later.

Sponsor: Representative Joseph Crowley (NY-7^th)

Vote:

Cost to the taxpayers:

MORE INFORMATION

Whereas in 1854, Conrad Poppenhusen, a successful businessman from Germany, built a factory in College Point, Queens, New York, and, breaking with many entrepreneurs of his time, worked to create an environment beneficial to the immigrant community, which included schools;

Whereas the Poppenhusen Institute was established in 1868 with a $100,000 donation;

Whereas the Poppenhusen Institute was to serve the fundamental educational needs of the community and began as a free adult evening school for the residents of Flushing Town;

Whereas in 1870, the Poppenhusen Institute's services expanded to serve as the first free, public kindergarten in the United States for the children of Mr. Poppenhusen's factory and the community;

Whereas children who attend a high-quality kindergarten demonstrate higher levels of reading and mathematics knowledge and skills than those who do not attend kindergarten;

Whereas a number of studies, including studies commissioned by the Department of Education, demonstrate that children enrolled in kindergarten more rapidly acquire the knowledge and skills integral to succeed in school and life;

Whereas the United States is a stronger, better place because of the children who are able to enrich their academic and social development through free kindergartens across the country;

Whereas for some children, kindergarten is the first common ground where they interact with students from a myriad of cultural, economic, racial, and religious backgrounds to learn about their world, each other, and themselves; and

Whereas universal, free, high-quality kindergarten for the Nation's children provides benefits both to these children and to society at large: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That--

(1) the Congress commends the Poppenhusen Institute and the College Point community for establishing the first free, public kindergarten in the United States; and

(2) the Congress supports the strong beginnings kindergartens across the United States provide for the Nation's children.

Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2005.

Attest:

Clerk.

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