The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-22
THE COLLABORATING" CHILD.
Miss Baclxus Gives Some Pointers on
How to Cure Him

The eighth class in child study partook
more Of the character of an informal dis
cussion than of formal lesson of any
topic.
several members had asked for sugges-
lions 20 help correct the annoying fault
OF procrastination, that "diny-dallying''
that is so provoking in child AS rule,
this fault develops between the age of
eight and twelve or thirteen and one of
Its most frequent manifestations Is the
sight Of boy or girl, two minutes before
breakfast time, sitting on the edge of the
bed with one shoe and stocking on, read
ing story book.
There is only one way to make a child
realize this fault, and that is by letting
its consequence fall on his own head. Loss
of breakfast is an heroic remedy that few
nave the courage to apply, but surely no
one would hesitate a taking all the books
out of the room until the boy or girl has
shown that he has self-control enough to
be trusted with them. Taking away the
nurse from younger child is a good plan
and making her come down with untidy
hair or dress awry, but she must feel
this as a modification.
Some objections to the kindergarten
that had been collected by members of
the class were also brought up. One
member said that she thought the kim
dergarten was especially good for chill
dren, which remark never fails 20 strike
spark from the Kindergarten. The dan
ger of the rich child, Dewey says, is
over-individualizing him, and the social
equality of the kindergarten absolutely
does away with all this tendency. A rich
child folr III
self the centre of the universe in the
kindergarten he finds that others are of
the same Importance. He learns to re-
spect the rights of others in a way that
few are taught at home, because at home
only twin has another on exactly the
same level with him. He learns the val
ue of cooperation, fairness, and the
pleasure of doing really good work with
his hands, surely good lessons for future
heads of corporations or for business
men generally.
The kindergarten is fully as great on
its educational side as in it's philanthropi-
cal aspect and is needed by every child
from three to seven years old, no matter
what his creed, nationality or social
standing.
Another objection from several different
sources was that kindergarten work
makes little machines of children" Miss
queer objections, but this one was the
oldest, when each individual child is made
the object of especial study, and his needs
are considered in every kind of work.
Each child is Encouraged in every way to
express himself and originality In every
form is welcomed. Many suggestions in
the work coming from the child himself
This objection argues before all else that
the objector has never been in a good
kindergarten where principals count for
more than materials. and the spirit more
than the FORM OF Neutrality-suspicious.,
said Miss Backus the less said the better
until public sentiment reaches a point
where 1t demands the best.
At the next meeting Mrs. George ].
Baldwin will talk on the subject of
Manual Training in the Dewey School
and the needs of growing children. This
meeting will be held as usual at the
Philbrick Kindergarten, No. 3O2 Hall
street east, from II to Il o'clock next
Monday.