The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-16

stronger foothold here than in many
cities. In Minneapolis it is not yet a
part of the public school system In
st. Paul there are also private kinder
gartens.
To be a good Kindergarten a teacher
must, above everything else, understand
children, and be herself a person of iudg-
ment and sound sense. A child enters
at the age of five years, or even younger,
in some cases, and is supposed to have
at least one year in the kindergarten
before entering the first grade, which a
child used to enter at the age of six.
INTRODUCED IN ST. PAUL.
The kindergarten was only introduced
into the ST. Paul schools a few years
ago, about 1885 Or 1886. Before that a
child was entered in the first grade
where, in many cases, it was put to work
on subjects it did not like and no effort
whatever was made by the teacher to in
terest the child in its work If the child
did not get along the teacher was sorry
but she could not help it. If a COM
plant was made by the chi1d's parents
the teacher would say she had more
than she could attend to as it was, and
that she had no tine to devote to a
backward or stubborn child. So the child
would sometimes stay in the first grade
two or even three years, and in many
cases would go through the entire grad
ed school without ever taking any inter-
est in its work. All this for the simple
reason that the teacher did net under
stand the child in the first place, and so
was unable to get its interest
Herbert Spencer does not believe in
forcing a childs attention, but in win
ming 1t, just as you would its affection
Leave off study the moment it be-
comes wearisome, he says; never let
a child do what it does not like ONLY
take that w iii, II,
tiVity choice OF good as well as evil
shall be given to it,
When You go into the kindergarten of
st. Paul school you find yourself in a
bright cheerful room. 1t is full of life
and color and movement. Little children
are building fences out of red and green
sticks, or making paper baskets. or do
ing anything that pleases them, but
which, at the same time, is a task at
which they have been set by their teach
erS
MUSIC AND STORIES.
Others are sitting in a circle singing
songs or listening to the teacher. as
she reads them a story The story Is
always one that will call forth good
deal of comment. and it makes the little
people think hard sometimes. and so NUS
their brains into action. Without reaIiz-
ing 1t, they are brought under perrect
iS'clPilile' hey are taught to be neat
and to move without making a noise
and what is most important, to be under
control without chatting.
on the walls of these Kindergarten
rooms arc always many pictures hannfIv
CHOSEN: Sometimes the teacher asks the
children to tell her story about one
OF these pictures. And very often the
story that tot of five tells shows deem
thought, quick wit and trained intel
mot i'm <L,sI
to bring their lunch to school. and thew
all eat 1t together. Many of the little
tots are in this way given their first
lesson In table etiquette. 1t must al
ways be remembered that their mission
is to refine as well as to educate. II
has been said by many doctors that the
age at which children enter is too young
and that the restraint they are put UNI
der and the work they do is warranted
to make them future nervous wrecks. Be
this as it may, the kindergarten is the
greatest teacher of culture now at work