West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-03-17
The Little Folk.
4 Day IN the Kindergo,
What 1t Tauef 'Fs~ and

,nr;taS +rono Normal Institute
q S,,n n'e &c i folll Washington to III,
s o,s's a % To- u. ows: On entering thu
r nes a. ~' % West Baltimore st., !
wac eereet'sd by the sight of fortr
INV crested. little people. They wers
having q talk on flowers, which
suoJect had been chosen becans.
they lad been singing "Bloonoing
AZ I OF Jesus" [ learned by tbi:
talF that everything was mad.
pr dctical and real to them. Tim,
ney were telling of having each
planted tulip or a hyacinth in
circle in their school garden last
fall, where a stick with the child.
name on it was placed by each
bulb. In the centre of the bed
they had planted flower for their
dear kindergarten mother. 81 viii
plant myself right here in ths
middle" she had said, "where Va
will all sleep, and l will speak soft.
ly to you and say, 'Children, grow
straight; grow good To-day" She
asked, "tell me some ways in which
the children in this living garden
of the dear Jesus can grow good
and straight and bloom for Him
They told many ways, and The
lesson was not lost on those 'slittl
buds of PROMISE" which will on,
day grow and blossom, let us hope
into good men and women. 4,
Mrs. Henry Taylor, former super.
intendent of the kindergarten
department of w. c. T. U. of Mary.
land, said in her last report very
truly: "The kindergarten will do \
more to prevent crime, build 4
character and prepare the poor to
become useful citizens than all the
jails and courts of justice in the n
land, for prevention is better than Il
cure, and prevention is education
Following this quiet time Of
conversation came lively march, \
for which they sung a Temperance L
song, every word of which had a
real meaning to them from theil
knowledge Of the evils of intemper
ance as experienced in their own
homes, and through lessons they
had received. They presently filed
to their respective work table;
The one L visited used the layin!
stats, Froebel's Eighth Gift. !
learned in this lesson that they
were taught by doing as is FroebeI;
design, direction, position, com
parison of form, correct expression
in language, and concert of action
Thus much for practice. Fol
principles, [ saw incuIcated
through judicious management b;
the teacher, self dependence, actiF
ity, attention, obedience and
exactitude. Who shall judge Of
the value of such molding of the
plastic minds and characters Of
these children, who are otherwls
born to such an inheritance ofevll' II
After their work came play-tims
The right guidance of the children
in their play is of more imports7H
than anything else, if possible j
hence, instead of wild confusion 1
and boisterousness at this tlms 1
one bright, merry game follows Il
another until eyes sparkled a.S
little figures were all alive win 1,
Joyous, graceful action. LIE
Jack Frost" was appropriately
the season. "The Chickadees" aH 4
Other bird plays followed, awaksr 1e
ing a love for nature and w
Creator. Kindergarten Chlms n
is the name of the book in when b
many of their pretty plays may ~ T.
found. 1t is published by olyi H.
Ditson & Co., of Boston. The mon
ing was concluded by the e91%,I
ment of a good lunch provided WI
them daily by those of whom o.
Lord has said, "Inasmucb as pr
have done it unto one Of the les
of these, ye have done it unto ms eh
Finally, I learned by this WISH
the w. G. T. U. Free KindergsrN3il PR
that brave hearts and willing mar PIT
are doing grand work Tor ~ s