Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-04-18

Gh.,- Toodmaa, q Bangor.
NV own love for and interest in chill
dren have led me for many years to study
their needs, and frequent journeylngs
have given me opportunities for observing
educational work in many countries,
and Of watching the development OF
children's minds under varying clrcum-
ST opportunities of which l have
eargerly availed myself. can only nope
thai may be able to say something 10
Won this evening that will be helpful,
and am sure that you will, at least, credit
me with good intentions.
Let us consider for moment what we
mean by education, and be careful TO DIS
tinguish between education and lnstruc-
tion. To educate means literally to draw
out, hence has to do with the developing Of
the mind and its various activities; while
to instruct is to furnish the mind with
knowledge. We can readily see that we
must educate child to some extent
before we begin to instruct him. That
ia. we must aid the mental development,
arouse the powers of observation, help
him to open wide "the fye gate~sys OF
knowledge" as an English philosopher
very aptly names the organs Of the senses,
and when the mind is thus prepared,
when it is in . receptive condition, 1t Is
time enough to begin instruction-the
storing of the mind with knowledge.
Educators, and indeed all who have
made careful study OF child nature, are
agreed that the earliest years are OF the
most Importance for educational pur-
poses and general development, for it Is
then that habits are formed and tenden-
ciee given. We must lay well the founda-
lions if we would rear an enduring
structure.
When an attempt is made to improve
tho work done in our colleges, II Is al
ways found necessary to work back into
the preparatory and high schools. When
the standard Of education in the high
schools is to be "a ised, then the grammar
schools must meet that, and send their
pupils on to the next grade better
equipped; and 80 from the grammar
school back to the primary. 1t is only OF
late years that educators have begun
seriously to look back OF the primary
schools, and consider some way OF bring
ing the little ones even into that depart
ment, better prepared for the work there
awaiting them.
The kindergartens give just this prep
aration, and are fast being recognized
through out the country as the true
foundation of educational systems.
The purpose Of kindergarten educs-
ton has been 80 well expressed by
others that l will quote: at is to
develop the child and all its faculties in
a natural manner, while checking all
propensities to evil. The new education
may be regarded "a analogous to the treat
ment of plants by a skillful gardener"
Hence the name, kindergarten, or child
garden, that is, garden in which the
child is placed and carefully tended by
the kindergarten, or gardener, who
directs the growth and development Of
the child.
SIT is to associate children with chill
dren in pure atmosphere, amid pleasant
surroundings and under special guild
ance, during the three or four years in
tervening between the nursery and the
primary school,
SIT is to afford children all proper, ra-
tional enjoyment; to supply them with
toys and games, to sing with them,
to play with them, the toys, games, songs
and plays being all covert vehicles OF in
struction. 1t is to promote children s
healthy activity; later, to awaken their
Imagination to the influence Of the beau
tiful, the true, and the good; to stimu-
late their initiative and inventive capaci-
ty; to aid the development of their rea-
son; and to give those powers full exer-
else and right direction"
sit is to prevent any undue strain on
children's powers, mental or physical
to teach by means of object lessons con-
veyed in plays rather than by books. 1t
is to form well-balanced mind; to dis
Germ and bring out gently, but surely
any latent aptitude for intellectual &C.
quirements, artistic gifts or manual
skill"
''!t e 30 prepare children for school,
to fit them for learning more readily, to
SOW the first seeds that are to produce
adults of sound mind in sound body
good citizens and true Christians"
1t is not the object of the kindergarten
to take the place of the primary school,
but to form the connecting link between
the home and the school. kindergarten
age is put from three to seven, which
means that child may be received at
any time after his third birthday, but a
two years course is sufficient. 1t is well
to supplement this with e third year,
which shall include the beginnings of
primary work in connection with more
advanced kindergarten work. If for any
reason child should not enter kinder
garten until he is five, should still give
him two years, with perhaps some pri-
mary work in the latter part of the second