The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-23
CHILD STUDY.
Miss Lucy Wheelock Talks
to the Three Local Circles.

The three local branches of the Child
Study circles held an interesting meet
ing at the residence Of Mrs. Frank w.
Ruggles, Tirren street, yesterday aft
ternoon. There was a large attendance
and the exercises which were appro-
pirate to the Christmas season were
much enjoyed. The feature of the
meeting was talk on methods of child
training by Miss Lucy Wheeloclz Of
Boston, who is at the head of the kind
ergarten normal training school in that
city. Miss Wheelock has been engaged
in kindergarten training for many
years, and speaks with the confidence
of one who thoroughly understands her
subject
In opening her lecture she said that
it was of the first Importance that
mothers should early come to under
stand that nothing is trivial that is hui
man. Childish actions which seem to
the adult at first glance of no import
ance when they are studied come to
have an inner meaning. 1t was Froebel,
the great German psychologist, that
first discovered the secret of childhood.
In his works, which have come to be
text books for kindergartners, he
shows that every action, every feeling
of the child is a step in the educational
evolution of the little one. All of the
great social reformers are agreed that
in order to reform a nation efeectually
the homes of the people must be inn
proved first. Those nations have been
prosperous where the family home life
has been held sacred. 1t is the devel-
opment of this ideal that makes q. ma
ton progressive.
Drummond has said that the noblest
thing in life is the mother, and almost
in the same breath he speaks of the
father as the protector and guardian of
the home. Every ideal home in the
community becomes a type of what
might be in every section of the land.
The value Of pictorial instruction in
youth cannot be overestimated. A
child Is delighted with a picture for
What 1t conveys to him in Imagination.
Pictures which seem crude to the artist
may convey more to the child than an
artistic gem wrought in glazing colors.
BY slow process the child must be led
from Slumbering feeling to a waking
consciousness. Mothers must learn the
value of teaching to their children the
happiness they may contribute to the
happiness of the home.
1t is to be deplored that we in Amer
lea have not more festivals or HOLIDAYS
u.
Festivals strengthen the cord that
tethers the child to the family circle.
In Germany for this very reason there
is stronger devotion to the home and
to the parents than in this country
The festal day unites the family as no
other occasion possibly can. To the
Jewish festivals is largely due the fact
that the race as a whole was a unit 1t
was the same way with the Greeks,
who were united by the annual Olympic
games. These occasions tend to
strengthen the bond of national life.
1t is to be feared that the spirit of
patriotism would fall very low if the
children were not allowed to explode
their crackers on the Fourth of July
The celebration of Washington's birth
day also serves its patriotic purpose
A festival has at its heart a spirit OF
religion. 1t is one of the secrets of a
happy family life The days when the
father, the mother and the children
are united for pleasure are the days
| that are remembered throughout one S
life. AS an educational institution their
value can not be over estimated
| The growth Of women's clubs has had
a tendency to bring mothers more in
touch with the current events of the
day. The fathers who belong to the
club and discusses daily the great
questions that agitate the nation, are
all the time increasing their body Of
thought. 1t is of the utmost import
ance that this spirit of discussion
should be cultivated more and more by
the mothers Of the land.
The subject of Christmas gifts was
| thoroughly discussed by the speaker
She said that the practice of giving
expensive toys was to be deplored as
| there was no meaning between the
giver and the recipient. Children would
appreciate gifts of less value il made
| by their playnlates, as they represent
personal effort and associations. The
gift is only genuine when it represents
something definite It is the same case
with parents allowing their children to
| drop pennies in the contribution box.
| If they are allowed to earn the money
| in some way and give the money Of
their own volition, the act of giving has
an added meaning which has an edu-
cational value The gift without the
giver is bare.
| Christmas is pre-eminently a festival
| of childhood. 1t is the day of hope.
1t marks the anniversary Of the COM
| ing of the Christ child to earth and
celebrates the prophecy of peace and
good will to men.
Miss Wheelock closed with recita-
ton of the allegorical story Of the birth
| of the German Christmas tree, after
which Mrs. Ruggles sang q, German
nursery song, "Cradle song of the
virgin
Miss Wheelock left after an informal
reception for New York city where
she is to lecture during the holidays.