The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-09
what 1, a Kindergarten?
"Come let us live for our children
EEEnENIIk LllAl-nI


The work of cultivating the human
mind is one of such supreme magnitude
ana Importance that every plan tending
to its perfection deserves earnest consid-
Grafton and fair trial.
The thoughtful, real educator, rcsem-
bles the wise farmer who does not cling
to old methods merely out of respect for
their age, but adopts all the scientific
improvements made, both in material
and method.
Within the last sixty years "A great
change has taken place In the manner of
dealing with the youthful mind. The
principle of force, harshness, compul-
sion, has been discarded, and the supe-
rior power of kindness and love acknowl-
edged and employed.
The rod and the cane, though
not yet entirely abandoned bv
largely superseded by better methods
of correction, kindness and encourage
ment, allied to tirmness, being found
more potent to lead than those weapons
were to drive.
How often the tired mother saws:
"Oh, go away; I've no time to tell YOU, :"
or, "Do run and play; Pm too busy to
listen to YOU" AZ this age, when the
child is too old for the nursery, and not
yet old enough for the school-room, il is
placed in the kindergarten. There il
finds dainty little tables and chairs lust
the right size for the comfort of its little
body. The table, checked OF into inch
squares, is furnished with gifts of
cubes and blocks of every geometrical
shape, all the angles squares, circles
oblOngs, etc Told how to build with
these fences, walls, houses, towers, etc. /;
so many inches, feet, yards around
long or high, the little child gets its first
and lasting idea of form and number.
StudyingY oh, no! only playing il
thinks. A merry game teaches ID a
language lesson. 4 pretty song gives
It a first insight into natural history.
a pile of bright papers, woven by the
little fingers, cultivates the sense
ul touch and color. One glimpse
into a well ordered kindergarten
Tor child gardenD is a sight to gladden.
the hearts of parents. Order and yet ac-
llVlty, gentlcness and serenity, rythmi
motion and exercise where the little
ones may grow, learn and be happy,
while gradually advancing i'm the health
iui use of its faculties and In the acquire
ment of knowledge. The medium for
conveying this is most delightful to the
enid and medium essentially reuui-
site to its age. Play, wisely arranged
and .judiciously dir cted by skilled
teacher, who must have passed through
a regular course of study to tit her for
the duties of kindergarten Directress.
FROM three to seven or eight years is the
age Tor the successful aud harmonious
development of the faculties according
to the kindergarten system. Little
children, cannot in accordance with their
nature, sit still any length of time, even
to look and listen; any mother will tell
YOU their constant anxiety Is to have
something to do, hence the Kindergar-
ten emplOymonts for fingers and feet, as
well rs eyes and ears, meet in an admir-
| able manner the child's wants and at
the same time furnish instruction. The
processes are carefully graded, contracts
| clearly shown and the connections well
applied which undorlie all the occupa-
lions. A true kindergarten may be
deemed costly, but the parent Wilt find
1t ultimately n cheap investment.