Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-07
kINDERGARTENcuLTURE
Something Of asyste d, which is of Great
n Hl BENEFIT 70 the children

ARGUsa Interrupted by shorter
waves, which almost seem to retraet
its progress, the tide of education is
ever rising higher and higher, steady
In its advancement, as each lesser
wave grants time to the ,curling,
crested giants behind to gather fresh
power, and cast themselves further
upon the beach. Year after Year
earnest workers in the cause, have
added what they could to its strength,
many seeming to fall short of the
great thinkers before them, but each
one giving new courage and vigor to
those who come after. 1t is neces-
sary to correct, at the outset, few
misapprehensions, which have un-
doubtedly done much to- hinder the
diffusion of kindergarten culture.
In the first place Kindergarten Gull
ture does not supplant family educa-
ton; on the contrary, it improves
family education and places it on a
sound basis. The kindergarten
proper offers the child an opportu-
nifty for social culture, for inter-
course with its equals in age and
| powers. Again the kindergarten
| must not be confounded either in it's
| nature or in its aims. with certain
| charitable institutions whose object
is the care and training of neglected
or pauper children, or of the chill
| dren of laboring PSF e lusing work
ing hours-institutibns which ex-
| listed in various Countries. under the
various names long before the kim
dergarten. 1t is true that kinder
garten culture can make these insti-
tutions much greater blessing, and
TOR this reason II his been introduced
in many of them. But, on the other
hand, ii forms an indispensable link
in harmonious system OF education,
equally adapted to all hnman beings.
equally necessary to the full develop
ment of all the powers of every child.
Sketch of the system.
l desire to present to earnest
mothers and teachers q concise sketch
of the system, in. such form that
the connection between it and other
important educational factors NAV
stand out prominently, and that
mothers and teachers NAV. at the
same time. find enough practical sug-
gestions to enable them to test the
merits of the system without in Jury
to the little ones. ~ >-s - II, :
Friedrich Froebel, the founder of
the first kindergarten, was born in
l1S2 at O5erweiss bach "a village of a
small German principalitv in Thur
ingia. oHe OF the ost romantic por-
tions Of Central Germany. Space
will not permit to give a, detailed ac-
count Of his lonely childhood and his
tender but unrequited yearning for
love; yearning which was satisfied
only when years after. he had found
his true calling, and was made happy
by the love and affection of his
pupils and few faithful friends.
Froebel based his system upon the
principle of play; he would have the,
child taught while playing, the great
est truths of the universe; uncon-
seious sly, yet with q deep meaning in
all, he would playfully lead the child
on to observe and create. to find the
law of unity. Froebel was phil
osopher; he investigated the relation
of the child's activity in play to the
growth of his mind; the mind grows
by self-reyelation. In play the child
ascertains and discovers the possibi-
lities of hisASin, and thought by ex-
erting his power spontaneously,
while in work he follows task pre-
scribed by another. - .ii ''.. no p =" 4
as. -FroebcIs Idea Carried Out 7lo2s I'd.
To carry out Froebel's ideas of ed
ucation eve should insist laJ,on. self
activity on the part,of9 the child. be-
cause a-harmeaieHs- development-o
the human powers requires not only
assimilation, but also production.
Only sell activity can induce. the
powers'to' grow and the methods must
labor to induce vigorous self-activi-
ty, and to keep it in proper channels.
We should aim at developing good
habits of observation. thought and
action; good habits in the formation
of ideas and purposes, as well as in
their expression, knowledge and
skill. The child naturally delights
in activity, and his desire for it
grows with the growing powers;
laziness and indolence frequently re-
suit from false education. By wise
management of the impressions
which crowd around the child. nay,
the baby conscious and, with it,
attention and self-actvitv3 cnn be
FASTENED and intensified; by the pro-
curing of plea snre and the avoiding
Of pain, the emotional nature can be
dire cted in proper rhannels; by
constant regard Tor the beautiful the
foundation of good taste, and with
lit, OF virtue can be la:d :, the wealth
thin ofIan,otia,,ac o,I nd 3r.5A4- III.