The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-07-19
The Gradual Merging Of Oral
Into Written Language.
A PRACTICAL KINDERGARTEN
Grace and Ease of Expression.
Mrs. Parker on Gesture.
Evening Reception.
(From Saturdays DailyD

Miss Allen talked yesterday morning
on the relation Of the kindergarten TO
the primary school. She believes that
the lack OF harmony between the two
is not only unnecessary but 1t detri-
mental to advancement in education.
Too often the primary grade teachers
think that the ideas of the kinder
gardeners are mere sentlmentality.
Miss Allen showed how the primary
grade of the public school is the logi-
cal sequence OF the kindergarten, that
the inharmonious relations are often
due to lack of freedom in the primary
school. Not license, she said. There
is a wide difference between them.
There must always be a law, clearly
defined. But within the range OF the
law there should be the freedom
which brings the ease of movement
and spontaneity.
Miss Allen is conducting her prac-
kindergarten Is there, but their alb
with admirable success. None Of the
equipments of the well established
kindergarten are there, but their alb
sence apparently does not disconcert
the children. Yesterday the platform
than during previous days. A few
palms and ferns made the difference.
All the nationalties Of the public
school, Hawaiians, Americans, Portu-
guese, japanese, Chinese, are repre-
scented in the little class so that Miss
Allen has an illustration Of the racial
difficulties which confront the school
teacher Of Hawaii.
fAl al lln
against the attempts to thrust the
children into learning things beyond
their comprehension. There are no
jumps in nature. he said The steps
leading toward higher education are
infinite. Education is a constant sue
cession OF experiments. One thing Is
done and tested, then changes are
made. They come naturally. The
children themselves create and suS-
gest the need OF the changes. The
newness of life comes through interest
in children. 1t is the everyday con-
version that means and brings pro-
gress. The principles of education are
in naturalness.
Col. Parker considers play and
storytelling Of great Importance. As
the myth merges into legend so play
factor in all teaching. 1t Is found in
the animal spirits. In order to edu-
cate the child, that love Of play must
be developed in the right direction.
The pupils must be met as children
full of life and spirits. There can be
order but the vivacity must not be
stifled He frowned upon the idea that
the school room must be in perfect
quiet, that a stiffness of posture indi-
Gates stuiiousness Cant, hypocricy.
spiritual death are the result OF these
practices.
Col. Parker discussed oral ynd writ
ten language. 1t Is not absolutely
necessary to pronounce a word in
order to learn 1t. Story telling plays
an important part in the development
Of the child Fairy stories, myths.
that have an undercurrent OF truth.
Have them tell the story back to you.
The continual oral reading, the over
effort to their voices, is detrimental
II Is also hard to determine whether
or not there is the development of
taste going on, to tell by the modula-
tion and tone OF the voice whether the
delicate appreciation of the gory, the
sentiment is there.
The children cannot always pro-
nounce the word because the images
are not strong enough. But they can
be assisted. The child cannot grasp
every image or the whole story at
once. 1t should not be expected of
him. In reading to the children do
not read whole story, chapter by
chapter. Very few books were ever
written that would be wholly inter-
esting TO the child. Only that is good
literature which presents beautiful
image to the child.
Col. Parker condemned the gractice
of spending three or four months on
reading book which the child is able
to learn by heart in two or three read
ings. lie said that for the child to be
forced to read TO reCite exactly as the
teacher does destroys the personality
OF the child. On the subject of good
reading matter he said that by read
ing great literature some new images
are formed each time il Is read. The
idea of the school is an ideal COM
munity, each pupil participating in the
exercises. II beautiful images are pre-
scented TO the child he will have de-
sire to present images to others. Pro-
nunciation is a matter of imitation,
voice is an individual expression.
Col. Parker said that what the child
can do easily and spontaneously is
the standard OF what he should ba
taught. The old adage children obey
your parents" should be reversed "a
read parents obey your children, that
Is obey the demands OF their nature
and govern your treatment OF them
accordingly. Most teaching has dead
form. Spelling Is making the form OF
the word. The form must be re.
tanned. The child will write RAPIDLY
and easily If the image is correctly
formed. Oral spelling Is much harde,
than written spelling. II is vastly
easier for the Hawaiians TO learn IN,
English written language than IN,
oral. Col Parker advised that child
rem must write under the impuIse n
thought. When words are pronounce
children form mental image ~ tb,
word which may or may not be cor
rect. IL 1t is not correct this NAV nre
vent the child from learning 1t cor
rectly All praise should be for elfor