The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-12-19
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN
At What Age Should q Child be
Started to SchoOl.

4
Started to Sch0Ol.
| Noticing an article on this subject in the lola
RKGIsTKR Of last week, we desire to reply to Il.
In the first place we submit some quotations
from practical and noted educators bearing up-
on this subject. When child goes to school the
first duty Of the teacher is to continue the meth
| cd Of education which has been pursued by ma
ture.
Examine natures pupil at the age of three, and
you will find that he has learned the leading ele-
mentary truths Of Physics without attending the
lectures Of any learned professor; that he has
some acquaintance with Botany, and cOnsidera-
BILE knowledge Of Natural History; that without
the assistance Of grammer or dictionary, he has
learned to speak his Mother tongue with tolera-
BILE accuracy. and that he has made q commence
ment in several mechanical crafts, such as those
Of the mason and carpenter.
Now, We argue that il the child has learned all
this when only three years old, how much more
will he have learned and how much more sus-
eeptible will his mind have become when seven
hundred and thirty more suns have risen and
set over his precOcious head.
Now, we want it understood in the first place,
that we don't advocate sending "babies" to
school, except to the kindergarten; but as we
very materially differ from said anonymous wri-
ter, we desire to express our opinion on the sub
ject hoping that II 1t is not worthy to be styled
ga healthy discussion" that 1t will he the means
Of calling forth such an one, from the pen Of
some slumbering genius.
We have the pleasure Of teaching two little
twin boys, six years Of age, who cannot dis
tinctly speak their own names; yet they are
nearly through McGufey's First Reader.
Now, would (what shall we call him? We
wish he (O had signed his name, but rs We
were taught in our youthful days to fill va
cant places with ciphers, We will for cnuve-
nience, call him Zero) Zero have kept these lit
tie boys lansuishing at home for three hundred
sxty-Gve days, deprived Of all the pleasures ''of
school life, just because they would call grand
ma 'dapma' and thank you sank Oo'? Methinks
if he would consider moment he could not be
so cruel We, for one teacher Of Allen county,
will not sustain Zero in the ''assertiOn that
children ought not be rushed Off to school before
they have received some training at home.'' We
taught in the primary department OF q graded
school one year, and know whereof we speak
when we affirm that we would rather have pupils
who have received no instruction at home. HOl-
brook, principal of Normal School, Lebanon,
Ohio, says:
1.-The only preparation necessary for the pu-
pills in learning the alphabet is that they he of
proper school age aud that the school lie proper
ly organized. l very much prefer that they
should know nothing Of any alphabet
Now, Zero, In the mouths Of two such learned
(?) witnesses as Holbrook aud your humble SER
want 1t shall be established.
1t seems rather amusing to us, Zero, that you
R,I 4:
wills of those little Five year old children,
and that your ''usefulness'' has been so efectu-
ally impaired by their presence at school.
Did one Of the little fellows tell you ~ wont
do it, sir''? II so, We imagine your terror |
stricken cOunte laDce, rs you mentally qnery, |
sob, whall do with him 1 wish he was at |
home tied to his mothers apron string or some
where else out fmy way I
Again, Zero, we deny that it is these ''little |
ones who are disturbing the school and cOnsum- |
ing the time Of the teacher Why, bless you,
our little five year old ''Jabies" are as quiet |
as ever Zero was. No. indeed, they do not
make the most noise in school, but it is the pu- |
pills from ei-ht to fourteen years Of age who are |
the most troublesome. hen as to consuming |
your precious time, why, Zero. did you ever try |
having them provided with q slate and pencil |
and then after their recitation let them prht their
lesson on their slaies? My word for il, they will
OutrivaL Mast in drawi.Is a perfect picture Of
Zero smiling down in wrath upon their Innocent
heads and they Will be interested in their pic
lures a. to forget all about wasting your valu-
able time" if percha,ce such wicked thought
ever catered their pure ads.
We admit that there is 40 advantage in begin
ming any course OF instruction until the childron
are able 10 communicate and receive ideas read
lily by means Of spoken language; bat We argue
that they are able TO do this when live or Six
years of age, and, Zero, that Is the age we would
have them start to school. Now, wont yOu he
so kind as to inform us how old you think these
babies" ought to be before they are permitted
to come into your august presence and waste
your precious time? But lest you will think our
discussion so unhealthy that it will need doc
tor, We will refrain from expressing ourselves
further, hoping to hear from Zero again.
DIGIT. |