The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-26
WORK OF THE DEWEY SCHOOL
Mrs. George j. BaIdwin's Talk at
PhiIbrick kindergarten.

PhiIbrick Kindergarten.
A most interesting class in child study
was held at the Philbrick Kindergarten
yesterday morning. 1t was the ninth Of
the series and quite a number Of visit
ors were in attendance, besides the regu-
lar members Of the class which itself has
grown to eighteen This shows an in
creased interest in the subject Of scien-
tihc child study, most encouraging to
those who are trying to show how bene-
fetal such study is to the teacher or
parent
Mrs. George J. Baldwin spoke of the
work and aims Of the Dewey Vacation
School, as she had seen Il last summer
at Chautauqua. DR.. Dewey's explanation
OF how his school came into existence
was very interesting 10 her she said, be-
cause he took into consideration the
childs natural instincts Of building and
love Of work and his ceaseless, tireless
activity.
The usual school where a child is told
to sit stiIl and be good and exercise his
memory seems such an unreasonable af-
fair, 10 his mind. He sees all the world
working and busy. and he, the most ac-
tive creature in II. is told to sit still and
learn something which has no real inter
est for him, and which usally only exer-
cises his verbal memory.
Dr. Dewey's school rooms are like home
rooms very plainly furnished. Around the
walls are cabinets which contain objects
illustrating different processes. as, for in
stance, the silk worm, cocoon, reels OF
silk in coIors and the silk goods In pro-
cess OF weaving. The child is surrounded
by interesting objects that excite curiosi-
~. so that when he comes to learn about
them he is anxious to find out their
properties Mrs. Baldwin spoke OF how
this developing method was applied to all
the branches OF study. While her little
girl went the children were studying the
colonization OF America, Virginia being
the colony chosen. These children caught
a sheep, sheared it and following the
whole process to the end, finally weaving
the wool into a blanket, the design for
which the children made themselves.
Mrs Baldwin said that the maps made
by her little girl this winter have been
especially commended, and that both in
her work and play. she was constantly
using the knowledge gained last summer,
because IL was real knowledge; she knew
those things because she had seen their
practical application. A teacher present
said that In Savannah the public did not
wish such a school and would not sup
port 1t. This objection was admitted, but
the class agreed to be the little leaven
that would try 90 leaven the lump of pub
lie opinion.
No eschool that leaves a child or any
part Of him, less strong than when he
enters is worth anything, said Mrs. Bald
win, because health is the foundation
of evrything that makes life worth living.
She then read an article OF Stanley Halls,
from a Chautauqua Herald, (which called
forth much discussion. Miss Backus said
that she had not felt It necessary TO in
troduce Mrs. Baldwin but she thought
that the class would like to thank her In
true Kindergarten style, so the class ad-
journed with vigorous clapping of hands
in Mrs Baldwin's honor.