The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-09-17
ThEuRY OF THE KINDERGARTEN
How 1t Is Applied to Broadening the
Mind.
"a paper read by Miss Douthit before the
Institute of WaScO county

inner or higher life. There must ex'
ist in every one an entirety. If the
positive or right elements do not de.
velope them, the negative or wrong
will germinate.
To call in to normal activity all the
physical parts. the mental and moral
senses and emotions with which tn e
child is endowed, is the work of the
kindergarten.
The body is not alone the temple OF
the mind and soul. but also a medium
through which these speak to the outer
world and through which the inner
self reviews impressions. The very
attitude of the Lody talk of the ln-
dweller; the merest motion of the
hand hetrays the bent of the mind.
Observe the little fellow with chest
expanded as much as his physical de-
velopment ad nits. with hands open and
you will find within soul conscious of
right only. with nothing to conceal.
On the other hand is the little one
who, disposed to contract the chest,
to clinch his tiny fists or thrust them
out of sight, is already giving signs of
suppressed virtues. and betrays con-
sciousness that there is something
within himself to be concealed.
These are the little hands that are
80 tempted to cram into the very hot
tom of the pocket the attractive things
found on the kindergarten table or his
mothers work basket.
1t is part of the work cf the kinder
garten, through the physical exercises,
songs and games, to overcome this in
clination to contract the chest, and
through the lessons accompanying
these exercises, put into the little
mind better thoughts and awaken the
dormant virtues, induce him by the
same means to open his hands and
show the tiny power he so persisteptly
conceals, thus aiding him to overcome
the slyness of his nature.
By cultivation of his better quail
ties. he no longer feels the presence of
anything within himself to hide, and
soon holds up his head and looks the
whole world in the face.
By the exercise of graceful move
ments are the graces of mind and
heart enlivened. Through physical
mo, ements, a clearer conception of
surr rounding objects reaches the mind,
q deeper and richer meaning fills the
soul.
To fly like little bird, calls to mind
the bird life, and the thoughts are
directed to pure and beautiful living.
To prance like noble steed. carrying
With safety over dangerous places his
imaginary master, or drawing a load
of merry children in a sleigh over the
hill and through the wood to grand
fathers house on Thanksgiving day,
naturally fills the mind wi til energetic
thought and a sense of responsibility.
To hover with outstretched arms for
wings, many other little heads in the
game of the mother bird, fills the little
heart to overlooking with the tender
est, holiest sentiment, that of mother
love and protection.
To march with steady steps and
time, keeping in time with the many
other little feet, teaches him to adapt
his life to the world about him.
OF no less impos Nnce is the train
ing of the senses. w
Miss Harrison aptly marks. that
there is no instinct of the child more
important and less regarded than the
exercises of his senses. The inner
being awakens by means of the inn
pressions conveyed to the young
brains through those avenues.
The proper training of the senses is
of the highest Importance physically,
mentally and morally.
The sense of touch is cultivated until
hard or soft, smooth or rough surfaces,
are at once recognized and through it
the mind is directed to the things
about him. He discovers that smooth
surfaces are more pleasant to the
touch than rough ones; that the soft
oall is 3 dearer little playfellow than
the hard one.
Through the aid of this sense the
mind is able to understand more clearly
the meaning of rough words. hard
hearts. and the proverb ga soft aus
wer turneth away wrath is fully COM
pretended. He finds that the limbs
of the trees are round with no sharp
edges; that most of the fruits and
vegetables are pleasant TO handle and
that the earth in most parts where
people live is comparatively smooth
and pleasant to tread upon: and the
mind is lead up through these crea-
tions to the Great Creator "who doeth
all things well," and love and grati-
tude, the purest essence of religion.
are kindled in the heart and grow as
he grows until they become a fixed
part of his nature.
Through thc sense of taste are the
thoughts also directed in the same
high plain as those things suitable to
eat are usually pleasant to the taste and
hurtful things not, and if we heed the
voice of God speaking to US through
this sense we will not eat those things
which are injurious. He too should
be taught that the appetite was given
by the same all wise one that We
might know when we had eaten a
sufficient amount, and will never fail
to warn us if we do not abuse.
Through the sense of smell is he
again taught the lesson of gratitude,
as he soon learns that the perfume of
thefruits and flowers give him pleasure,
and that bad odors warn him of things
that are hurtful.
The eyes may be so trained that
even the wee ones can distinguish, not
only the prismatic colors, but the
tints and shades as we'll, and thus
educated the eyes discover beauty in
the tiniest plant or insect.
Iha1 lutte face grow radf-
ent oy Auties discovered In
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