Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-07-29
Some Thoughts on kindergarten.
BY EMMA c yHIPPLE,


NUMBER THREE
1t is noticeable that Froebel, whose
earl ly years were deprived Of the sweet
aud natural ministries OF mother-love
should, in all his teachings, lay so much
stress on the Importance of wise and
loving mothers, He gave up much time
to the study of the natural and instinct
i've relations of mothers and infants, and
recognizing the fact that as artificial Gus
toms and forms Of life are adopted. the
natural, instructive traits are in a great
degree lost, he went to the huts Of the
peasants, and watc chcd the earliest devel-
opments OF the children of women who
bad no other training than that given
by the Divine Father to every woman's
nature, in greater or less degree. -
From such sources, FrOcbrl has made IA
collection of songs, accompanied, in
most cases, with some motions of hands
or feet, which he has made still more
useful and attractive by suggesting to
the mother what he saw, within these
1ld-time ditties. In the charming vol
ume called the "Cossetting Songs" of
which very few are as yet translated in
10 English, Froebe himself tells us. h,
has laid the foundation OF all bis teach
ings. The illustrations are so excellent
that the text needs bnt little explaina-
ton, and know of nothing more sug-
gestlve than a careful study of this
book, even 10 one not an adept in the
German language. The simple music to
which these little plays of tingcrs-and
indeed, all the limbs of the little body
are made to m We, is of great use, accord
ing to our teacher. Nothing so insignif-
icant in the daily life of mother and
child that may not be made theme for
a lesson, instructing the little one about
the world into which it has come and
il is because mOtherly love and instinct
are truly magicians, humanity has not
suffered all the various evils it might
have done from leaving, so generally,
to chance, instead of using
the natural aids brought by the child in-
to this world as its natural endowment.
Froebel recognizes seven natural in
stincts or tendencies, in the wise, loving
and harmonious development of which
depend the character and usefulness of
the adult:
impulse to natural activity in gen
eral first expressed in the need of mo-
tion). This Froebel meets by the use OF
the play-gymnastics. .r a. .--...-. .r...
2-That impulse or instinct, which
leads to the cultivation of the soil, which
proceeds partly from a desire for food,
and partly from an instinct to provide a
habitatlon. This impulse is first satisfied
by the care Of little gardens and becom-
ing acquainted with the productions of
nature. ..-. s....
3-The impulse toward formation, or
plastic impulse, which is developed in
art, and leads to plastic art and inven-
tion, and is nourished by all the occupa-
tions of the Kindergarten.
4-lmpulses for art demands the cul-
tivaton Of the ear, and is gratifed by
music and poetry the development of
the body in graceful and rylLmic mo-
tions, and leads TO dancing. This is ear
ly recognized in the kindergarten by
singing the songs accompanying the
dramatic plays. These will always be
seen in all children who have not been
hampered by artificial restrictions.
5-lmpulse for acquiring knowledge
in its different directions, which is taken
into account by making the child ac-
guaintsdL with. matter and its various
qualities, as form, number, size, etc, in
the elements of geometry.
e--Impnlse for society, which finds its