The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-10-07


nurses who know their use and value, read
lily commend them to others. The third
fourth, fifth and sixth gifts belong to the
Kindergarten" These gifts consist OF
boxes of cubes, variously divided, which
are used to give pleasant lessons in num-
bers, or the elements of arithmetic, in form
and invention. They develope the con-
structive faculty, and with the aid of stories,
anecdotes, and useful information, accord
ing to the teachers tact, are made to con-
vey much simple instruction concerning
the laws of nature and common things.
Little children cannot, in accordance with
their nature, sit still for any length of time,
even to look and listen-their constant
anxiety is to have something to do, and
hence the many employments for the fin
gers and feet, as well as for the eyes and
ears, which Frnbel suggested, meet in an
admirable manner the child's wants.
Colored papers for plating, clay for mod
cling, sticks for laying figures on the ia
bic, and slate ruled in squares for the ele-
'''~"'' VI ui""ihS, ioiiiuS VI paper, ny
means of which the elements of geometry
are taught, afford variety of employ
ments which must be seen to be rightly
understood and appreciated.
Active games, with songs of the most
innocent and instructive kind, form part
of the daily exercises of the 90 Kindergar-
ten
1t will be evident that the principle of
the kindergarten - system, which so
admirably combines thinking and working,
is not limited to infant education-the struc-
ture reared must rest upon, and accord
with, the foundation laid; as the child ad-
vances from seven to twelve years of age
and upwards, the teacher has but to sup
ply the means of progress in knowledge
suited to the requirements of the pupils;
books are then used by them with intelli-
gence and interest," and, in the develop
ment of their growing capabilities, they
will be successfully taught to teach them
selves.
In this brief sketch of the " Kindergar-
ten 4" and its origin, it is not intended to
describe infinitely it's several and carefully
graded processes, how the tasks to be &C
complished advance from the easier to the
more difficult, nor how the law of contrasts
and their connections, which underles all
the occupations, is applied. Yet from this
outline it will be seen that Fr9bel devised
plans to meet the wants of the child under
seven or eight years of age, and the favor
which kindergartens find with children,
shows that he struck the right vein, and
that he understood the nature of the child
WHAT Is THE PURPOSE OF KINDERGARTEN
EDUCATION?
1t is to develop the child and all it's
faculties, while checking all propensities
to evil in a natural manner: the i" New
Education may be regarded as analogous
to the treatment of plants by the gardeners
art.
1t is to associate children with children,
i'll pure atmosphere, amid pleasant sur
roundings, and under special guidance.
1t is to afford children all rational enjoy
ment proper for them, to supply them with
toys and games to sing with them, to play
with them,-the toys, games, songs and
plays being all covert instruments of in
struction.
1t is to promote children's healthy activ-
ity; later to awaken their imagination
gradually to the influence of the beautiful,
the true, and the good; to encourage their
initiative capacity; to watch the develop
ment of their reason; and to give those
properties free exercise and right direc-
tion;-in other words, to develop children
from within outwards.
1t is to prevent any undue strain on
children's powers mental or physical, to
teach by means of object lessons involved
in plays rather than by books.
1t is to induce q we'll balanced mind, to
dssaarn ana bring out gently but surely any
latent aptitude for intellectual requirements
or manual skill.
1t is to relieve parents of narrow means
partially of the charge of their very young
children for part of the day, and during
that time to train them property.
1t is finally tc, prepare children for school,
to ct them for learning more readily, to
sow the first seeds that are to yield adults
of sound mind in q soand body,-good citi-
Gems and trae Christians,