Smyrna times., 1874-02-11
MSSceIIN 10 e o IL S.
The kindergarten.

cessful operation, may prove interesting TO
those who concern themselves with educational
matters, and especially to a number of intel
| ligent and thoughtful educators in Baltimore,
who are at present engaged 10 putting the
kindergarten on good basis amongst our own
people. We take it from an able French
work by Edgar Bourleton, entitled IL ALE
magne Contemporaries, the author having
been taken prisoner in the late Franco Prus-
sian war, and while confined in Germany, oc
cupied in studying all sorts of German institu-
tions for the benefit of his somewhat needless
countrymen. He finds great deal to admire
in Germany, and among other things the kin
dergarten for the proper education of children
to prepare them for schools
THE FIRST KINDERGARTEN.
Frebel, who was born in 1882 at Oberweiss-
bach, village in Thuringian forest, estab-
lished the first kindergarten, stimulated to do
so by bis own sufferings in childhood. He was
disciple OF Pestalozzi, Swiss and rsfor-
mer or popular schools. After the war of 1918
Frebel established at Kelhau, in Thuringia,
. school for children of from two to seven years
of age, bringing to bear on the theory of ma
ture s process the experience Of his own child
hood. He called this school a kindergarten"
or child garden, for the reason, as he stated,
that child was young plant and should be
reared accordingly. AT first be was pronoun-
rience with his method the people finally prais
ed him. official interference not only ceased
during his lifetime. but the government at last
encouraged him. In short, FrOebel lived to
see kindergarten established throughout Ger
many-dyng at the age Of seventy, proud Of
having so happily realized his benefcent and
modest aim.
THE THEORY.
FrOebels educational system is based on ex-
perience. All infants like to play give them
then, as curious playthings as you can. They
soon tire of curious things which they do not
comprehend, and before which they remain
passive spectators; infants accordingly break
toys to pieces and and in turn fashion some
thing else, restless activity ever obtaining out
OF fragments new materials for more interesting
objects. The fsshioning of something new out
of something old or chaotic is a natural instinct.
Frebel devoted himself to regulating this Gre
atIve infantie instinct, the recognition of
which is so important in development of the
faculties Of observation and Imagination. lie
accordingly organized the Kindergarten with a
view to an exercise Of the infantile hand and
mind by easy work and simple amusements
while he disciplined the understanding by sing
ing and by games Of ever increasing complex
ity. In carrying out this plan never did he
depart from the scope of infantile accomplish.
ment
IHE THEORY IN PRACTICE.
Nothing, says NJ. BOureton is more inter
esting than visit to German kindergarten
1t consists of a large, we'll ventilated structure
to which is always attached garden planted
with trees and flowers. The children occupy
its various rooms according to age, the boys OF
one side and the girls on the other; a child il
admitted as soon it can walk they number al
slZes from two to six years of age. Frebe
was averse to sending, children to regula
schools before the age of seven. The cbildreI
Of the rich have kindergartens of ther own, fo
which charge Of seven dollars year is made
while the kindergarten for the poor are free
excepting an average charge of one and
half cents per day for two meals supplied t.
them.
SIGHT OF THE SCHOLARS.
: Let US visit one Of the kdergartens for tn
poor. 1t is nine O'Clock in the morning AM
the children enter, bringing along with them
small bit OF bread to eat before the mdda
meal An inspection for cleanliness take
place; no large spots, holes, or rents are al
lowed, all this, indeed, being forcstalled by tn
pride as well as interests of parents. Eac
), child passes to its place at the table on whicl
playthings are displayed; the smallest occup
themselves with little wooden blocks, buildn
walls, gatsways, and houses, each competn
with the other. An idea of lines, shapes, an
proportioDs-every conception, in fact, neces
sary in the perfection of high or cOmplicate
edlfce-is awakened in their little brains
Each observes his neighbor's work and, wher
invention flags, copies and initiates. Takin
is permitted, and, thanks to every one bein
occupied with his own work, there is no noise
!. The more advanced pupils are given NOR
difficult tasks. Some weave together strip
of paper OF different colors and of symmetrics
design, like squares, circles, stars. and othe
shapes which require closer attention. PraC
ha oh cLil nl - ha,n
prising to see how rapidly the paper glide
through their fingers, and issues from them i
proper shape. Others fill up with lead per
Gil progressive geometrical designs traced bt
forehand, and which are afterwards repro
duced without the model with remarkable az
curacy. Others execute in transparency, wit
- the point Of pin, houses, dogs, and flower
. or repeat the outlines Of these objects in wor.
4. ted work.
An hour of physical exercise always follow
J, an hour of labor. Then comes singing, whic
is learned by ear; then marching about th
floor, turning and winding as in ballet; the
- sports IN the garden with small spades, eonsis
ing of digging in the ground and building u
IN or excaYating tcnements of all kinds. A pa
y. of the time is deyoted to gymuastic exercise
The children are made 10 stretch their aru
IS, and fingers and stand on tiptoe play soldie
and finally practice games, devised by FrOeb
himself specially to exercise the organs
i've hearing. touch and sight. Many time, sa.
md our author, the results have astonished m
st. On visiting a kindergarten Of sixty pupils
s'; :rn have witnessed sort of blind-man's buff,
which every child in turn had TO guess, by q
Iie' exclamation, the name of the child who seize
S% de, its hand. Not one in SO large crowd made
50; mistake.
IA THE RESULTS.
ss55: The exercises develop, to remarkable
der gree, persipcacity and thoughtfulness, while
''' love of labor under this form becomes sedu
md M tive. The children are eager to get to scho
30 where all is trOlic, and every evening the
10 take back some new acquisition to their fam
ks lies Children are naturally open and con
!" muncatiye, and are consequently cheerful Il
On child who is supposed, a priori, to be of goC