, 1879-01-17

To the Elar ~ The Tribune.
CHICAGO, Jnu. 1B-1 notice in to-day'a Tn1n-
uNH the inquiry, "What aro KtndeTgurtens1h
Having been for some tina greatly interested
In Fropbc,'s books and work, perhaps Gun give
.lnqulEsr " some information ~ to tho funla-
1ncutal ideas which undcr'te the system.
Ffoobcl, tho originator Of these methods.
chose his nanne Kindergarten" because here
thu children aro looked upon and treated as
gardener would hts plants. Ths bcst possible
condltIons for individual development ars given,
for there IL perfect freedom and spontane!ty
{thnugh no lErensc). All i,urtfnl things ars ro-
moved, each successive stagc Ut growth noted,
aud sue1l nourishment and culture given VI that
stage demands. For example,: During infancy,
when tho child cau mentally only receive I'm
prcsslons Of tlngs, Frocbcl addresses himself
especially 10 these; but in tho ctofCs Of tho
means for this work hu takes forms which ars
analogous to other and higher states which the
child will reach later. Tho bali he uses ~ 4
symbol Of unity; tho cube rcprusents that which
has u,any hspcctA-yarttty; and ~ With tue oth-
IT playthiugs. Whcn the perceptions aso aw4k.
culug, they are duly cared for. Froebei never
often do, Of Ealing certain powers weak, wten
1t IL nut yet tl,ne for them to aeveop them.
selves. lie neyef adtfrcsscs the reasonlhg tac-
ulty til It shows itsebi. tia uses sl,s srIaes
20 tnauy doors and winaows through which tn
bring III light and material for the building ut
fhu holIkr. Certain carxful1y-scfoctrd, simple
pla,th1pes IL gifts he calls tAeuI) bring to tho
| chitd'A sunses curtain properties OF nlHttcr.
| Tlc$e ought never t0 bt uAed IN tile kiR1cr-
Carteu as Pcstauzxi uEes objects IN tha sel'ool.
fur nero 1esGOus. such lr8xons must COMO only
i.e;txia'iy, while tlls gtft IL played WITH talked
| about, lUTed.
liz takes advantage Of the childish desire to
investigate inner conditions, a"t gives sIt'9'!
| buxrs Ut blocks WHICH tan be lawful taken to
nieccs and reunited. He witches far the spring"
{up up Ut the ai.ng gIaatiotl, and gives s!tuplt,
clear outlines OF thihgs for thu child to I'LL and
sllsde Rs h!s laucy Dictates ,u
| tle nuts tho eh!t1 Into eoMpanS OF cull-
| slsea having like tutes"sts, that there he NAY
lea1u that hu IL obuof H,any,-HiaY prnetscc u.s.
l,y docs not aIwsys afford scope tor, especially
for an unly philu.
Fsoelcl seems to feel that nacll child Is spe'
clul - thought oG liud"; ttsut With care on put
na1t tl!a guu! seed planted tleruwlll geriniuats,
our work being to Keep down thu weeds.
| ltEu FEocLeI's idea Vi living plant better
than lusluircr's" comparison Of thu child to
tpIattte ciay," eveu "vt.aiizcd." because the
thi4 Is lytuv, aaa because too much 1nIFrcta Vi
the potter ~ apt tu be given. Nc hase used olll
tasto aud our wills III tho Formation 0& uuF chll
dren's character too tnllvtl FrusbGl now wants
to kry something Else, VIZ. tho elild's oxn krl!
| aetivitY; hut fcuaealbes lla sarA "ilo taps1ec,'
| no lcrn3e. Everywhere tlsr& u acttTttY IL IT.
! luilsst sel,4c, but everywhere Ats3 there !nus
be moderation. lic aiws,s tinds fAa "happ,
medium"
Hooks aro not pccessasv here, for Froebet deal
viii the "A, b, ol us.xgs, not ger will
eausslf." And this, beSausa tl,ldren aEe :.
krrnly siiys tu 1II wnrsl SURROUNDS them. 0n,
uf the greatest lr!lyate " the k1n4r5EartneF