The Republican journal., 1900-05-31
ABOUT KINDERGARTEN.


have been asked to write an article
this week about Kindergartens. l know
they are springing up on every side,
though great ignorance prevails con-
they are day nurseries, where children
may safely be deposited by mothers
who wish to be relieved of care. Many,
even among the patrons of the kinder
garten, have not the conception of the
purpose of this institution to whose
tender mercies they daily consign their
children.
There are two classes of critics:
Those who object to it on the ground
that it is all play: that children need no
instruction in this line, and it is better
to leave them free to amuse themS elves;
and those who object to it on the ground
that it is all work. and taxes the infant
mind with supertluous instruction. Both
of these views cannot be correct. and |
think neither is so.
One object is to aid the proper growth
of young children, physically, mentally
and morally. Every game and every
song used in the Kindergarten means
something, and has some influence in
the process of child-culture. 1t is an
influence for good inherent in the story
and appealing directly to the personal
interest of the child The first object
of these plays and games is to give con-
troll of the body. They bring into play
different sets of muscles i'll order to
strengthen them with exercise. to train
them to quick, steady and accurate mo-
ton, and to habituate them to instant
response to the mind. The finger plays,
the strin9ing of beads, the weaving of
papers, and all the varied occupations,
impart to the little hands a deXterity
they would otherwise acquire only by
slow experience.
Another object is to give familiarity
with the external world. The faculties
OF attention. observation, memory and
reason are cultivated in the handling Of
things so presented as to make plain
the natural properties. For example,
the exercises with spheres. cylinders
and cubes of all the primary cOlors,
educate the perceptions of the child and
teach him colors, form and number.
Yet another purpose is to develop a
love of nature. The child acquires this
from the association with flowers, the
the poetry of the great out-Of-door
for weak, dependent things and awaken
the love. poetry and reverence in his
nature And the child forms the habit
of goodness from being always in an at
mosphere of truth, justice, love and
reverence.
The Kindergarten aims to put the
child in right relation with himself, the
external world and society. 1t is, there
FORE the natural basis of education. and
teaches simply, at the most retentive
period of life, lessons which underhe al
knowledge and all success. 1t teaches
What nature slowly teaches by daily eX
,, perience. 1t might be asked, then why
not leave this work to nature? Be
cause it is constantly baked by circum
stances and by parents, when this tram
ing is left to accident and the proper
material is not presented for the child's
investigation, nor is it given at the
right time, nor in the right order to be
most effective. There is need of guild
ance. This the kindergarten supplies
But here comes up a most important
question from business stand point tC
our tax payers, who are now so heavily
taxed, for it is the tax payers that are
chiefly interested in this work. They
know and realize that all true prosperi
ty lies in the Industrious, law abiding
character of its people at large, an(
such citizenship is only to be had by ed
ucation. But somewhere the system
fails. There has been large increase
in schools, but a larger increase in pris-
ons and almshouses in proportion to the
growth of the population. The weak
ness of the schools may lie i'll the fact
that they do not take the children at an
early enough age. The children of the
lower classes of society are turned out
upon the street, in very infancy to &C.
quire an education, the evils of which
cannot be unlearned in lifetime. By the
| time they have reached schOOl-age they
have become ''incorrigibles" who cannot
be kept in any>Save reform schools, in all
| probability be maintained at the expense
of the State for the remainder of theil
| days. Taken in time, surrounded with
| good influences during their most i'm
/ pressible years, they might be educated
i into virtuOus citizenship. This is Ger.
tainly a legitimate part of the public
school system And if taxes get down
about ten per cent. it will be for the in
| terest of the place to see the reform is
accomplished.
| kindergarten is work that is worth
supporting. 1t is foundation work, and
| hope we shall soon be able to support
! the movement, and lessen the number
of little boys, mere babies, who infest
! the streets. smoking. swearing and learn
| ing vice in every form. Are we ready
to make the city safe, wholesome and
desirable home for their children and
! their children's children? 1t is mat
ter of political economy. 1t is greatly
to be hoped that the loyal, intelligent
citizen will feel able to give the move
ment hearty and effective support. Geo.
| A. Boardman in the Calais Times.