The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-11-09

Dter or Henry Clay.
The changes which have been
made in the school room represent
the experience of ages. The new
me DDS which have been adopted
are endorsed by the great majority
of the men and women who have
themselves in the pro-
&c teaching, aud are gener-
ally accepted by teachers as wise
and beneficial changes.
Col. Jones is in error. We fear
that his natural aversion to fads has
caused him TO oppose progressive
methods and to align himself on
the side Of the moss-backs.
We call the attention "f Col.
Jones to what era Elbertus" says
about the kindergarten IL the Octo-
Der number of the Philistine.
Even if it does not convert him, we
are sure he will enjoy it as it is
very good reading. ezra Elbertus"
says:
The kindergarten! The Child-Garden-.
bloom and blossom.
You cannot make the plant blossom.
You .can, however, place it in the sunshine
and supply it aliment and dew; but nature
| does the rest.
And 50 it is with teaching-all we can do
is to comply with the conditions of growth
in the child, and God does the rest.
| We are strong only as we ally ourselves
| ~.;sh
hold on the forces of the Universe.
Man is a part of Nature-jus, as much rs
are the tree and bird. In the main. every
animal and ever, organism does the thing
that is best for it to do. Froebel thought
that human nature in its elements is as free
from falsity and error As Nature is under
any other aspect. The idea that man Is
constantly prone to do that which is hurtful
to himself, was revolving to this wise and
gentle man. The kindergarten System is
simply the utilization of Play as the prime
factor in education. Froebel discovered
that Play was Gods plan of educating the
young, and he adopted it.
Before Froebel's time everybody seemed
to think that play was waste of time in
children, and a sin in grown-uPS. lha'
which was pleasant was bad. Some people
! glad to know, growing trifile lone
some.
In 1850, the year before Froebel died. he
said ssIt will take the world four hundred
years to recognize the truth of my theories. ,
Only fifty years have passed Uhree hundred
I and fifty years are yet to our credit). an'
/. already we ind the kindergarten lde;
- coloring the entire scheme of pedagogics
Il IF line, hor rel a
water its influence is shown in every part
Not a school room in the civilized worl'
= that does not show the influence of Frede
also crept into the homes and is influencing
and educating the parent.
The use of pictures as means of excitin
q self-activity is seen everywhere: childre
: are being taught to observe nature. AM
L they are encouraged to bring to the schos
). the curious things they ind in woods {
tields-brds' nests. fungi, howers-an
these things are discussed with anmatio
e in open court.
It There are fewer books and greater inte
e change of thought and feelius-more (,
. preston and less introspection.
Disgrace thru the dunce-cap: ''standiu
y on the floor: humiliation thru corpor'
& study to look on: of the ruler on III
IS open hand on account of lessons not men
4, orized--all these things are becoming oea'
tifully less. NaSgings. chidinss. threa
and stern prohibitions now have no leSit
81 mate place in any school-room.
= But the things l have just mentioned
\ and which every of, say. forty year
:, so we'll remembers, nothing compare
TO the inanisitorial horrors that childhoc
of hundred years. even nifty years ag
% had to endure. Thomas Carlyle on
1t wrote: Most people seem to think tn
a when Jesus said Suffer little children
come unto Me and forbid them not
held rod behind Him and was only tryil
~ to coax the youngsters within easy reach.
IT l, is no, my purpose here to cataloS Il
IN villainieS of the past, done IN the name
ne education: bu, the matter was summed
-, BY a friend of mine. Englishnan. 4 f
weeks ago. when he said: 81 most sure
believe in hell. for 1 have been theI
On When 1 was seven years old my parer
IS placed me in a boarding school for boy
and remained there five years. The IA
rs cling and hsastly brutality of the big DO
toward the little ones. only reflex
the mental attitude held toward us all
~ the head master and his wife. who we
it neither better nor worse than the avera