The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-04-16

kindergartens in connection with the
public schools. Indeed a universal
effort must be made to provide these
advantages for the younger children,
and it will be when the true relation
between the kindergarten and the
primary school has been eXemplified
in some Of our most progressive and
up t0-date towns.
When we consider the good that
the kindergartens of San Francisco
have done, even those men and
women who claim that the kinder
gartens are simply doing what the
mother ought TO do, must admit the
Importance of mothers mission.
While we acknowledge the truth Of
their objection, we claim that the
state must not suffer from parental
neglect. Many are the children for
WnOm the state must provide even
right moral start. If every father
were highly educated and could de-
vote his whole time 10 the education
Of his sons and daughters, it is posi-
bic that we would have no need OF
schools or colleges. Yet as advocates
OF common schools are we not strong
ly inclined to feel that we are train
ing up broader minded men and
women, more original thinkers and
all round good citizens by our admir-
able system Of public education? For
the very young children from all Of
our homes the Kindergarten with its
beautiful principles is like Il lovely
flower, making glad the high and low
Iy, the rich, the poor, "a blessing to
ali, for it's loneliness can never be
forgotten. 1t opens such weaJh OF
sweet thought and helpful sympathy.
Unit! child is six years old ne is not
sufficiently developed TO stand the
study Of school child. He ought not
to be in school. But from the time
he is three or four he should be for
a certain time each Gay occupied ia
orderly ways, tending toward ideally
developed traits of character and
inner cOnScientiOusneSS 0 right and
wrong, true and false. a very few
children Can get this at ONE. the
mass cannot, and even WiJn the most
fortunate there are some things which
community life alone can bring to
perfection in their characters. We
believe children should have freedom
in their play, yes much Of it, but we
do not believe in turning them out"
to play when they are mere babies |
and leaving them entirely to their |
own devices They should be as care |
fully guarded in their play as in their
study and diet. They should be
taught to play healthful. wholesome
games. This should be done SO tact
fully that spontaniety will not be
disturbed, that the mother or teacher
will always be welcome visitor in
the children's circle. 1t should be
the duty of every mother to give her
child plenty of the cOmpaniOnShip OF
other children, and freely of her own.
The school recess would not be such
a terror to the primary teacher if the
spirit of the recreation period Of the
had been thoroughly en-
joyed by the children before they
came to school age. Older children
could be trusted-should be trusted
TOTO play by themselves and to deal
fairly and honorably with one an
other. But in order to do this safely
they must have been trained into
habits of truth and honesty, self-reli-
ance, purity and courage.
Too often the dishonesty resulting
from indulgence in baby talk and af-
fectation is encouraged at home,
when, if child is allowed to mingle
with other children, he outgrows
naturally, this at one time pleasing
attribute. Baby-prattle is too pre-
ciOus memory to be misused and ex-
posed to ridicule. No true-hearted |
parent will encourage the use of it to |
the injury of her child's finest nature
and most sensitive feelings. Baby |
talk is only sweet when it is natural.
1t is absurd and disgusting when
practiced by children who have out
grown it; or encouraged by short
sighted and simple minded parents,
who often unwittingly and sometimes
foolishlv, think they keep their baby
by making cheat and pretender of
him.
Grimm tells US that, 'The ideal of
beauty is simplicity and repose".
Children grow into this-what! by be-
ing with grown people constantly?
Which child of all the children you
know is the least self-couscious? Is
1t the one who has been with older
people all of the time? Is it the one
who runs the streets uncontrolled and
without restraint of any kind? Or is
it the one who has learned by proper
guidance and care, with freedom,
he was yet very young that he has
so have others; that he
may at all times turn to his mother
or teacher with full assurance of her
ready sympathy and help-but that
a grown person is always to be respect
ed and obeyed; that his best times
are those planned by his mother for
his companions and himself; that his
mother is his wisest friend and the
friend of his playmates; that his
world is not for himself alone, but
that his happiness depends on the
happiness he gives to others
whose desires he understands because
they are his own: that it is his privi-
ege to consider others who have the
same ambitious, the same ideals, and
Jhe same work and the same play?
We may come down 10 the child's
plane: but too many of us do not do it
Ind IL is wicked to try to drag child
ntO ours.
The Kindergarten offers to help the
,hild over hard step. When it is
recognized in it's full beauty and help
ulnesS-when il has conquered pre-
udiCe and has been established in its
rue character and bearing, when
hnr fc fn