Telegram-herald., 1891-08-05
THE KINDERGARTEN.
It Is the Safety Valve OF ChiIdhood's
Restless Activity.


Froebel. the good German kindergar-
ten father. may have one day read
this old but familiar sentence: 'Man
does not live by bread alone" and be-
ing most alive to the interests OF the
chill and his needs, made an applica-
tion OF the principle in their favor. Be
this as IL may. one thing Is certain,
he became thoroughly conscious OF
tho important fact that more than the
ordinary physical attention that chill
dren had been accustomed to receive.
was needed for their full growth and
development. and that there was some
thing else in the child besides bone,
sinew and muscle. Their three-fold ma
ture he has nicely considered. their
environment OF physical. their mental
and last. burt not least, their spiritual.
All these, in his we'll developed plan
Cor embodiment, must be well and SYM
etrically rounded to the full growth
of an indi iyidual With his superior
intellect and wonderful insight he was
able to place himself on the child's
plane, and there saw tho baby rs n
tiny dew-drop that, mysteriously ap
pearing one morning on the petals OF
hall open rose. nestled lovingly and
securely there in its color bed and act
ed as a prism to the sunbeams and
reelected all in it's little horizon. On
its mothers breast the infant lies car
ressingly. the perfect embodiment OF
contcnted feeling. without any knowl-
edge, and is able only to appreciate
or express what comes under his lit
tie observation in his small sphere.
He can, therefore. be reached only
through his affections, and by imi-
tation and Imagination. II would be
as unreasonable to expect him TO act
from thought or be governed by rea-
son. as Ii would be for a man TO be cx-
pectcd to stride from cliff to cliff:
one would be Just rs impossible rs the
other. The child from the first Is full
of activity. and is contentcd only when
doing something. Now, unless this &C.
tiyity Is wisely dirccted,it may run io
unwi~e channels. for in any case II
must find room. as truly rs steam con-
fined in boiler must find vent The
kindergarten is the safety valve for
childish activity. and the only place TO-
the education of children that know
where every impulse of a chiia's
heart Is utilized for his own
unfoldmcnf and the great stream
Of active life Is directed In pleasant and
at the same time profitable channels.
No horrible buchears or wicked mon
sters dwell in dark eayerns along this
stream. but plenty of singing BIRDS.
sunshine and fresh air surround II.
The positive qualities. rather than
the negative ones. are dwcit upon In
the kindergarten. and the good things
are noticed rather than the ugly and
unplsasing TEXTURES pictured. Doubts
are never heard in the kindergarten,
hut n better way is always shown.
From the chief element In the child's
nature hc is delighted with movable
objects. and tho seven woTsted balls
OF primary colors which Froebel chose
as tho first gift i'm the kindergarten.
fills a long felt need in the ehilds mind.
for II not only fits his hand and moves
In response TO his touch. making him
feel his own power. but seems so full
OF life Ike himself. that he soon learns
10 love IL. not only for its own sake.
but for the lovely little stories his
active mind weavee about them. He
plays they are brides. perhaps, and
makes n nest with his hands and rocks
them 20 sleep. singing softly. or sns-
pending the ball from q string. PLAYS
n Is church hell. telling people 70 be
good and inviting them ~ chnrch. or
nav ~ clock pendulum. swinging
10 and fro. while no learns, "a Froebcl
says
~vhst.v@r thing - prosperous and sourd
VIII keep within itseil Eeod time and true"
through all the play with the ball
- is readily seen that Imagination is
cultivated. feeling and sympathy en-
largrd and thought aw akened ss
complete fhine. the ball i@ tyre ~
other complete things, ~ the earth rs
= sphere. and IN ite uHsnang ahleuese
= symbol ~ fruth.
In All the works ~ the kindefgsrfen.
every giff ahf occupation il intendfsf
% - Sc ssniaertiy fitted FOR the needs
- th~ ehild anf hts anfoidmeaf as tae
balls are at fhe tWFishfBg ani siseh q
unffs aadeflies the whfie plan that
ne byesk - sesf. hat one ttoaghf er
pfan - work dsvsiopes oF leads iafo
snnthsF. NELLIE AUSTIN.