The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-10-08


where there is sequence of thought as
well as sequence of form, has its place
in the kindergarten. One time we may
make all the different kinds of boxes
we know, another time it will be all
the different pieces of furniture we
would use in house. | could con-
tinue Indefinitely, telling of how our
methods of today are changing as a
result of this recent movement of
child-study. We are beginning-only
beginning-to learn something of the
child and how TO reach him; how to
reach his heart and mind through his
body-not in the old-fashioned way of
flogging-but in the new-fashioned
way of developing. Next in import
ance to the work done in the kinder
garten is the relation of teachers to
parents, or, l may say, simply the par
ents of the child, for the true educator
stands for the parent during several
hours of the day. To further friendly
and cooperative relations, it is quite
necessary for the teachers to visit the
homes of the children. For this pur-
pose each kindergarten at the discre-
ton of the director closes at II o'clock
once a month, and all the teachers go
home with the pupils. These visits
are also of great assistance to the di-
rector in planning her work, since she
can find out what influences she can
best use to counterfeit the evil influ-
ences thrown about the child in his
home and on the street. 1t is of help in
still another way. One of the girls
came to me full of grief, and, l am
sorry to say, anger, over a hayward
child whom all her efforts had failed
to conquer. Anxious to get at the root
of the trouble, gave her an outline to
fill out in regard to the life of the child.
Some of the questions were such as
required her TO visit the home to an
swer. Soon she came to me almost in
tears. All her Impotence and anger
had changed to pity, and an earnest
desire to help the poor, neglected child
all that lay in her power. From that
day we began to notice an improve
ment.
Next in importance to the visits in
the homes by the undergraduates, are
the visits of the parents to the kinder
garten. For this purpose we propose
to have mothers meetings-nice hap
Ply affairs,-where the parents and
children shall meet to enjoy the same
entertainment, partake of a few light
refreshments, and depart with great
er aloha for the kindergartens, and
lasting memory of happy hour. We
may, also, tell them little of how to
care for their children, as we see they
need from the visits to their homes.
l could speak at some length of the
ideal relations which should exist be-
tween the undergraduates and the pri-
mary teachers, where all are working
together for the greatest good of all.
Only the other day | picked up a pa
per and read: rs the primary school
to reach down its hand and kill what
is best in the kindergarten, or is the
kindergarten to leaven the whole?"
That question is still to be answered.
So much for the things we can do;
now for the things we hope to do.
AN ounce of prevention is worth
pound of cure" said wise old philoso-
pher. So we keep out of draughts that
we may not catch cold; we have kin
dergartens that we may do away with
our jails and reform schools. But the
kindergarten only takes children at
the age of 8 to 4. What happens 10
them during those three or four long
eventful years? 1t is during those
very years that the seeds of intemper-
ance are sown by over and irregular
feed, which is the practice among our
common people. The mothers do not
know how to keep the little ones clean,
or how to care for them. Mother in
stinct is a great power, but cramped
and downtrodden by ignorance and
poverty, as so many mothers about
here are, it seems almost to lie DOR
mant. Could the little ones be carried
to a creche every day, they would be
cared for, properly washed, fed and
put to sleep regularly. The mothers
could come and learn what to do for
them and could be shown the import
ance of regularity in the habits of the
child.
Let us look into the future for
moment See that large, comfortable
looking building, open to let in the
sunshine and air, decorated with
palms and flowers, singing birds and
pictures. 1t is morning and the little
ones are coming to kindergarten.
There are mothers carrying tiny ba-
bies toward the creche, while the older
children go to the ante-room, where
they are washed and made ready for
their days work. Little japanese, Chi
nese and Hawaiians walk in together,
or skip and dance, as they more often
choose. Finally they all group about
the piano for their "Good-Morning"
songs. You can hear the sweet voices
of the native children The little Chi
nese and Japanese, so unmusical, seem
to catch the sweetness, and all the
voices blend in harmony. Over there is
a little, round, merry-faced native
child, always ready for a frolic, but
never for work. Beside him sits lit
tie celestial, whose sober countenance
would alone betray his nationality
But see how he laughs at the antics of
his little fun-loving neighborsi The
native child soon notices the nicely
finished work of the other, and hears
the word of commentator from the
teacher. Can he not do as well? And
fun for the moment laid aside, he fol-
lows the example set him. The one
nationality impulsive, generous to a
fault; the other stoical and grasping,
rather than generous. Can they come
in contact daily without a reaction
taking place? Why may not the chief
Il