The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-01
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esase Of Catholic edacAtion. I avail my
self of the columns Of yeEr journal 20 give
o simple brief reply.
Fully 20 appreciate the utility aod beAa-
u Of the Kindergarten, requires more time
and atndy than the general reader can AZ
ford % give. If only can aroase parents
and those in charge OF children. 20 me
necessity Of the special care needed nom
the third OF fourth 20 the seventh or eigns11
year, / viii be sstis6ed because they VIII
then be led to investigate for themselves,
and cannot fail to approve OF TToeoeie
method.
There ARE different ways of treating
children of this age. One 10 simply 20 snip
ply the wants Of the body another, eeoA-
II if not more injuTiOos, is TO over samu-
late the brain, at the expense OF the pays
ical organization, and 30 make children
p.odigies of learning tso- ealled) 3 four' nve
or ak years Of age
Why not study the eharscseEIstlss OF
childhood and treat children aeeording 70
the inneceos cravings implanted IN toeir
uinds and hearts by God. This Troopers
il method, commonly called the kinde5gar
ten, He visited mothers in their caoins'
studied the pature of the child, noted WIN
anxious eye the smile and love bestowea
on the tender mother who helped hef eoi.o
in his unconscious desire to become nc
ocaiotsd With himself, bis SURROUNDINGS
ard his big home, the world
TIE babe grasps all within its reach
the child, too, m ust feel every thing he sp
pears 10 derive most knowledge at nrst
! from the sense of touch, 1t seems TO AWAKEN
the uind-to arouse perception.
In the Kindergarten we give the na1tI
ial fpsper, wood, modelling clay or "na',
ever il Isl into the child's hand and lead
| him TO Investigate all its qualities. AFTER
this lie done, instead Of arbitrary signs ana
rules from book, We convey our insttuc
ton by means Of bis own doing. Ay
I AEfar ha EAR given
his own ideas about q square OF paper, for
instance, that he holds in his hands, we ae-
scribe what il necessary to consntuse =
square. He can easily see that eacb OF the
four sides Of his paper is equal. nos ne
can measure them on the table, Wnich 70
inches. He will readily point out sttef-
wards all the eq1are objects in the room.
BY doubling this paper twice pc can
produce frat an oblong, which ne Will u
once perceive has not the necessary foim D,
and later his scream of delight when ne
fnds bis four little squares wiz s1oS
how heartily he enjoys his lesson. one
idea at q time is ali that should be at
tempted. ,..
i This folding paper serves also 70 cu,9
| pats the best instincts of the heart. be
wishes to make his little boat, or star OF
whatever be fancies, to take nome a.
present to his Papa or Mamma VINO are &c
good and kind to him.
A child Is continu aliy asking questloDs
whyf Simply because iio is the nasura
method Of acquiring information 1nete
is nothing go injurious TO chllds oisposI-
ton az to be always told to be quiet. ne
asks what makes the flowers grow. a lit
tie conyersation as such time would give
, him food to digest at leisure, for chlldrer
think and reason far more than we.imaglne
= When the information is withheld, lant
, many parents have not time to give I,
such masters,) the child becomes peevisi
and fretful. Nurses have nophad the ecu
cation necessary to enable them to instrnc
the child. The kindergarten supplies IN
, | want.
= The plays which alternate with the oc
. cupatious, for no child can be connned {
. one position for any length of time WITH
" out injury to the spine, are the means
. forming the child to habits Of kindness an
= courtesy to his little companions, and 9
!. proving far more eloquently than any word
= could do, how much happier he 10 when b
= consults order, regularity and the comfort {
others, than when he is selfish and thin
only of being first himself:
= Besides the physical advantages game
= - BY the light gymnastic exercises brougt
- forth by the different games, the child
: led to investigate the different habits an
customs of men, the distinctive marks {
n animal life, etc, etc.
n See twenty. thirty, or even sixty Chile
| rem Oh LDC hiduSI BoAlch 0eSD 49,
. witnessed in this city, playing the gan
- - called "The Farmer" With what zest the
- initiate the sowing Of the seed, the reapin
~ the threshing, the sitting; and then Il
. work all done, how each one rests aceort
he ing TO fancy. One day in particular, +
a a member how the stiffness of the feigne
* Il sleep was broken BY come Of them cor Or
q. M to show how thoroughly they enter into q
~ spirit of the plays. The different Varieti
lie Of grains, etc, are discussed. Each PHI
tb has its own peculiar advantage for DO
ha mind and body.
&c &c Playing is the natGral occupation or btA'
" ness of q child Teach them, then, by mea
~ ~ Of play, instead of trying TO altar I
a. happy nature which God in His goodDe
~ has given them.
r' The eye is trained especially by {
an drawing as practiced in the Kindergarte
- in the same manner az tie ear is trai
IA. ed by the rhythmieal music attending
an play.
. .en Some persons may object that the til