Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-07-17
A German kindergarten.

DIR, HuRsr writes from Bremen to the
New York Eoth0dia:
Perhaps better idea cannot be
presented Of the working of Kindcrgar-
ten than n description of the way in which
the principal one in Bremen Is conducted,
and which | have had occasion TO visit.
Many of the children are so small that
they need to be conducted thither by older
persons, when they are met at the door by
servant, who relieves them of hats, coats,
shawls and lunch box, care being taken,
however, that each child aid in adjusting
its own things, and having fixed place
for all. The propretress-Mis Grabau--
is assisted by two other ladies. The school
| is divided into two classes, either one or
the other of which is nearly always in the
large hall for exercise, or working in the
little gardens out of doors.
In the sChoolroom each scholar is pro-
vided with Il very neat and comfortable
desk and chair, and is taught to regard
them as its own property. The employ
monts are worsted work, knitting, elemen-
tary drawing and every other imaginable
thing which is supposed to furnish such
young fingers and minds with combined
skill and amusement. The children have
patterns before them for everything they
are to do, and the teacher personally su-
perintonds them in each little labor, when
every pains is taken to impart rs much ele-
mcntary instruction as possible. For eX-
ample, if little girl is Mt work on n book
mark, or II lamp.mat, she is taught imita'
ton, combination, perspective counting
tho alphabet and many other things. AS
soon as she is tired of one employment
she is Mt liberty to begin something else
that she may like. Thus all weariness Ii
avoided
The room for exercise is very large and
like the school room, neatly ornamenteC
with pictures, and when the children arr
in it, they are under the care of n teacher
who has them go through many gymnastit
exercises. This Is the most interesting
feature of the Kindergarten. The chill
drcn, boys and girls promiscuously, arc di
rccted TO assume n certain position. l
may be that of a regiment drawn up il
line-of-battle, The teacher then com
moncss story about n certain battle thei
comes some stirring song, when all sing |
together, and then the battle commence
in right good earnest After the victory i
won, the teacher narrates a peaceful stor,
in verse, which the children have ais
been previously taught, and which the,
| repeat with her, going through with al
! the gymnastic exercises suggested by tn
verses.
For instance, she tells of great pigeon
house, out of which the pigeons come on
by one. Some fly slowly and others NOR
rapidly; others so off and hop around ol
| the ground, while others light on tn
{ chairs, some get tired and Others fall down
= and thus the supposed movements of
= whole flock of pigeons arc represented b.
{ the children.
5 Afterward the teacher may begin to to-
. in prose about an old blacksmith, and b
= and by she reaches the verses telling {
+ his anvil, bellows, red-hot iron and grea
!. hammer, whom the children sing with he
D and the whole room is transformed, for
@ time, into great smithy, and all the littl
/ folks industriously and laughingly playin
Y blacksmith. Another song tells abou
walking over heath, where at last grea
r pond is reached. The frogs are heard I
5 croak and seen to leap into the pond
,. During this time the whole class become
+ a large group of similar croakers In u
5 these initiatOry exercises, The children pr,
@ serve strict order, but their risible proper
IA sities are but little restrained. Just rs 500
i as the slightest fatigue or decrease in il
4 tcreSt is observed, the exercises al
;. changed, when the class is immediatel
q taken into the other room, or else into II
. garden. About one half Of the time seen
TO be devoted TO the gymnastic and hort
cultural employments, and the other Ia
!, TO the light manual labor at the desks
a the school room proper