The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-09-18
FOR THg LITTLE FOLKS.
A Brief Description Of the Aims Of the
kindergarten.
One Of the Greatest and Most Far.
Reaching Educational Reforms
Of the Present Age.

Among the various systems Of child
education now in vogue no one has at
tained the high standard and given an
equal practical demonstration Of its
many and superior advantages as that
of the kindergarten system. Since the
organization Of this familiar system a
rapid and steady increase in its popu.
larity has been evident, until to-day
fully 100000 children in the United
States are being instructed by this
method.
When the plan was first suggested il
met with considerable opposition and
its founder was subjected to all kinds Of
ridicule and unfavorable comment.
Not discouraged, however, with the at
tempt made to crush it out of existence
he persisted and in a short time demon
strated to the satisfaction Of the public
that the system possessed many great
advantages over others then in use.
Frederick Froebel, the founder Of the
kindergarten, took for his motto
Come let us live with our children. J."
The idea in brief is, not to confuse the
child with series Of meaningless words
but to intimately associate action on the
part Of the child with similar action Of
tbe outside world.
From the Misses Blake and Johnston,
who have recently arrived from San
Francisco and organized kindergarten
in this city, the following information
was gained relative to the system: All
occupations in the kindergarten are
called plays, and the materials for occu-
patton, gifts. Among these are the
movement plays, in which the children
initiate the flying Of birds, the swim
ming Of fish, the motions Of sowing,
moving, threshing, etc. By this method
the child is not compelled, first, to learn
certain vocabulary Of words and thon
a system Of putting them together, and
then associate the object with this ac-
quired knowledge, but is brought in
close touch with the object.
Each step in the course Of training is
logical sequence of the preceding one,
and the various means Of occupation are
developed one from another in a per-
fectly natural order, beginning with the
simplest and concluding with the most
difficult features, thus satisfying all the
natural demands Of the child's nature.
Movement plays are alternated with
light gymnastics and vocal exercises.
All occupations that can be engaged in
out Of doors are carried on in the garden
whenever weather will permit.
Through kindergarten play the child
becomes acquainted with the external
world, and knowledge acquired in this
manner has been shown to be much
more certain to be retained than by
methods less entertaining to the child.
Work is the great panacea for the young
as we'll as for the old, and we give work
as reward and take it away as a pun
ishment.
In the kindergarten, the mental,
moral and spiritual unfoldment Of the
child's nature go along with his physi-
cal training and the best results are
always obtained by an early start. 1t is
the aim Of all kindergartens to get hold
Of the little child as early in life as possi-
BILE. All children after passing certain
age and being surrounded by influences
not tending to future progress acquire a
certain amount Of superficial knowledge
which is serious obstacle to overcome.
This can scarcely be termed knowledge
but is q natural result of throwing a
child upon its own resources.
Any especially strong natural talent
or ability which the child may possess
eagerly feeds upon anything relative to
or directly associated with the develop
ment Of such talent or ability. Should
these natural qualifications tend toward
the vicious, it can be easily seen the
almost incalculable lasting injury which
will be inflicted upon the child's nature.
Taking any subject Of which the child
is totally ignorant, 1t is a comparatively
easy matter to instill into its mind the
proper ideas and the correct system of
following them up, but II ideas have al
ready been formed a double duty then
lies with the teacher as the incorrect
must 6rst be broken down before any
progress can be made. II the kinder
garten could control the first seven years
Of child's life 1t would have great and
substantial benefits TO show to the pub
lie, Thoughtful educators are coming
more and more to believe that the sys-
tenn Of unfolding the child's nature
through their senses rather than dwarf
ing the intellect through the meaning
less repetition Of mere words, is the most
natural and the only correct method.
Since "the child is the father Of the
man." the child is the chief considera-
tion and childhood is the most sacred
period Of life. Many Of the public
schools are making notifications in the
system in order to conform more closely
to the kindergarten system. This shows
a generous and broad mind on the part
Of public educators and the change will
no doubt soon show itself to be q good
one in the way Of beneficial results.
As regards charity kindergartens, 1t is
necessary to secure sufficient funds in
monthly subscriptions and not to reply
on spasmodic efforts or voluntary dona-