The Republican journal., 1900-01-25
Suggestions for kindergarten Reform.

Suggestions for kInde rgarten RefOr M.
l would like to see organized work of
rescue to deliver the modern kindergarten
from the metaphyscians, and to give it
over to the philosophical hygienists, who
should make it everywhere and first of
all palace of health.
The needed reforms in the kindergarten
must, of course, come with elaboration
enough 10 be sue. A committee of ten or
more might help, provided they were not
Undergraduates, but We're wise and COM
peten:; although badly appointed COM
mittee would do harm by confirming old
practices. Let me confess frankly that l
do not, myself, know at present just what
should be done or just how this grade of
education should be best organized. One
of my dearest wishes is to have adequate
means placed az my disposal to expert
ment few years, or until | could present
a scheme of detailed work. That this
could now be done from data that are
accessible is certain. Great improvements
are entirely practicable.
A few things | shall venture to Indicate.
The body must be Strengthened. The activi-
ties should involve more body movements,
and the strain upon the hand and eye
should lie reduced. The very high edu-
cational value of dancing should be ex-
plotted; it cadences the entire soul as
almost nothing else. Building should be
done With much larger blocks. Catching,
throwing, and lifting plays and games
should be selected from Mr.. Johnson S, or
some other convenient repertory. Imita-
tion OF do as l do activities should
have a larger place. Bean bags, and, if
there nplb9lS the hnnn tho
jumping rope, and the kite might have
some place.
Certainly the doll, with all its immense
educational power, should be carefully
introduced. Much might be said in ia
Vor OF the color-top, peg board, soap
bubbles, and such old plays as jack straws
and knuckle bones. All the Proceedings
OF the Toy Congress, and the contents of
the toy shop, should always be studied
and used Walking sideways and back
ways, and sorting out very heterogeneous
blocks and cards and laying like To like,
might be tried; while pop corn, play with
chalk, shells, spools, pictures perhaps
cut and pasted-nilk weed pods, potato
work, possibly the whip, and all possible
contact 18th animate life should be care
fully exp Enellted with-always remem-
bering that the child $ interest in animals
eliminates before that in flowers or trees.
and that the latter reaches Its apex before
interest i'll inaniI1ate things When we
reflect for a moment ON the richness Of
the possible symbolism that might be
developed out of objects like the above,
We realize that the intellectual pabulum,
even according to the current Froebel
philosophy, would be condensed and en-
riched rather than otherwise.
The intellectual method OF kindergar-
ten thought needs adjustment, 1t must
be made accessible to the scientific move
ment of the age, which has hardly touch
ed it. 1t must study the marvellous
School of Infancy, which Comenius, long
before Froebel, and no less wisely, devils
ed, and profit by it. 1t should cultivate
children, not in pots, but gardens. 1t
must study the nature of the child, and
abate itscult of al attenuated symbolism.
Every child should have opened and kept
fol- ii, during its entire kindergarten
course, a Hfe-and health book.
There is needed for the kindergarten a
definite curriculum, with loyalty to the
genetic conception, and in friendly rapport
with the new psychology. There should be
less attention to results, and closer in
terest in, and sympathy with, educational
work and organization for other grades
There is also needed more sentiment and
less sentmentality-a truer conception OF
the child. not as trailing clouds of glory
and family understanding anything, but
as a lovely little animal, full Of helpless
ness aud incapacity, but also of bouudless
p0tentalities Every educator. even the
university professor, will profit by a care
fu study OF the kinder garteD. The enthu-
siasm and love Of children on which it is
based are the very greatest needs in the
higher grades Froebel should lead the