Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-07-29

visible world, which leads it TO appre-
hend what it can not recognize with its
senses.
''lu these impulses,' Froebel contin.
ucs. care expressed the principal traits
of the buman soul, in general way, as
they have manifested themselves in the
history of civilization"
Froe Jcl's genius as an educator shows
itself in his adaptation of these natural
impulses to the great end OF the harmo-
NOUS development Of the human being,
aud profound recognition of the init.
mate relations which exist between all
human beings recognizing the sacred
ness Of the ralation between mother and
child in truly reVerent spirit, he pro-
ceeds 10 the relation OF the family, Law
ing much stress on making the child well
acquainted with the more remote anceS-
tors. None who have listened 10 the
request so often made by children to
'tcll them ahout papa and mamma when
they were children" or about their own
babbyhood, will fail to appreciate Froe-
bells hints. Those who are careful OBJ
servers OF the plays of little children
when left naturally to themselves, must
have nJtlccd that to play "iather and
mother" is 60 constantly sought by chill.
dren as to show that the idea of family
relations inheres III the consciousness Of
the child. These traits, so universal in
children, are not accidental, but are
some OF the many provisions OF the All,
wise to make love OF family and friends
n central point for each individual
| When the child has become accustomed
to its family relations, there is still Il
need in its nature which can only be sat
fled by relation tJ its peers. We have
all seen how children brought up exclu-
slvely with grown-up people lose, in a
degree, their child-like nature. The in.
stinctive JOY Of even little children at
meeting little children of their own age,
is evidence OF the need which exists in
their own natures for such society.
Froebcl, recognizing this, and using this
hnt OF nature as he does all others, pro.
poses that little children, even under two
years old, should be sent to true Kinder
gartens, where, even in the arms OF their
nurses, they will be amused ard interest.
ed by observing the occupations" and
plays of those a little older
Those who have noticed how quickly
very young children learn to initiate the
| tricks OF oder brothers and sisters. can
appreciate the wisdom of this suggcs-
tlon. Such visits to true Kinlergar-
ten, where each infant would ioyful-
ly recognize an older brother, or sister,
or cousin, would be far preferable to the
usual promenade Of the nurse with the
child or children under her charge. This
is, i'll too many instances, only an oppor-
tunity for the indulgence of the nurses
natural love OF gosSiping with others of
her class and the weary, hopeless,
meaningless expression | have seen on
the faces of the children whose airing
was taken in expensive carriages, tucked
in with rare and costly robes, has offer
made me pity those p0Or rich children,
who were displayed 10y their nurses on
the fashionable promenade, more than
these OF the poor women whose necessi-
lies drive them to lraVe their little ones
to shift for themselves, while they are
seeking bread. The children of the
street are left free To obey the instinct
tor society, which asserts itself equally
in rags or under costly wrappings.
Another method of applying the prn-
cipleS of Froebe's system has been al,
ready tested in some parts of Germany,
and is worthy of importation to our
country, and has in its use the germs of
Il truer social relation than any vet
known. Imagine a neighborbood where
several young children are scattered
among the various households. Suppose,
as trust some day will be the case each !
mother has sufficient acquaintance with |
FroebeFs system 10 be able to teach the |
or to conduct the "plavs"
OF the kindergarten. Then suppose
these mothers forms mutual league of |
of the care of the children |
Of the neighborhood-on stated days all |
the little ones go to Mrs. A. for two
hours--on ANOTHER day Mrs. B. receiye es
them for two or three hours; and so in
turn, each mother choosing what she
will do to interest the children. One
will give an object-lesson perhaps-and
q few months practice will richly repay
the mother herself for this regular at
tempt to aid in the development of all
the little ones in the neigh borhood.-
Each mother will become acquainted
with all the children and thus be enabled
to judge more wisely concerning her own
as she learps what she may
have considered an individuality in her
own child, is only common trait and
needs no special indulgence. A neigh
borhood trained from the days of infan-
cy under method like this would pos
sess advantages hardly to be over-esti-
mated, At seems to me. TO be instru-
mental in establishing this idea in its pu-
rty, and with an earnest endeavor on
the part of the mothers to follow Froe-
beps method Of procedure, would, am
free to own, be to me the goal of my de-
sires. In a very valuable book, the title
of which is "Woman's Educational Mis-
sion," being an explanation of Frederick
FroebePs system OF Infant Gardens,
translated from the German of Baroness
Won Marenholtz by Elizabeth, Countess
Krockow yon Nickerode, are to be found
many very interesting suggestions to
mothers and all who are interested in
education with reference to the introduce
ton of Froebel's ideas into our methods