The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1902-07-11
Singing and Calisthenics in the School
Room.
BY Miss IRENE FREEMAN.

BY Miss IRENE FREEMAN.
Can it be that there is school room
III our county where both do not lind
their place every day? So naturally a
part of the days program do they seem
to me, that should either be neglected,
there would be the same feeling of
duty undone, just AS much as, if for
instance, the arithmetic or the number
work had been omitted.
Now why attach so much Importance
10 what | have heard referred to as
mere subterfuges by which to pass the
time? Ii there needs tie teacher who
must resort to anything, simply to pass
away the time. let US commend her for
at least her wisdom, in selecting music.
Truly none can doubt the elevating.
softening, even christiauizing influence
Of music. Children love to sing, just
as the birds do. the happy heart finds
its natural outlet III song. l have
come IN contact with few children
who are not fond Of singing but they
are the exceptions, and l really feel
sympathy for such children, feeling
that there is a lack of love and sun
shine in their hearts. or perhaps it is
tie fault OF home influence. 1t seems
to me that There is no way III which w
car come near.r to the children. win
them over to the good and the beauti-
inl than by song
The true teacher feels that her duty
to the child is many sided QUE, she
Is not satisfied With simply teaching 1t
10 read. to wIite, 10 spell. etc. She
must develope the mind in the trLe
sense of the word, but with it the heart
the character aud the soul. Feeling
the weight of this responsibility she
tries 10 reach the child from every
possible standpoint, aud why not
through his love of musicy Now if
singing is to be made more than a
pleasant pass time, 1t it is really to
have any educative value, much care
should b. taken in the selection of
songs. There are so many beautiful
words set To music, to bright, sweet
music, such as children love, that we
should have no trouble in the selection
OF our songs. The thought expressed
IN words, the beauty of the words, the
appropriateness and the music to
which they are set are all TO be consid-
eted. The work of an ideal school
room is all correlated. For instance if
We begin with Il history lesson, it is
incomplete until the geography of the
places where certain events transpired
- studied, that may be supplemented
Ny the geology lesson, that. in turn by
tie reading lesson a written review
NAY embody fine language or gram.
uar lesson, aud at the same time there
IS also the spelling lesson. Now comes
with 1t all the Co related song Chill
dren take great delight in singing songs
they really know about and have IL keen
sense OF the appropriateness of songs.
Even the youngest child soon learns to
discriminate and will rarely suggest
Little Jack Frost" for "A walm spring
oay ner ilaNer song for a freezing
day, Christmas song for May.
There Is nothing which seems to in
spite children with feeling OF patriot
ism. keener interest IT, special seasons
OK occasions than appropriate songs.
Tie christmas songs ate always great
faVori es with thu children and in no
way is Tie Christ Child brought nearer,
made more beautiful than in song.
To my mind there is no harm in
teaching mere j,egles, bat if We are
teaching should Ne not try TO give the
child something To think about, as we'll
as slng about, There Is also very prac-
teal slde to tue teaching of singing in
tia school. 1t is through this
medium that many iue voice has
been discovered and developed that
might have otherwise lain dormant
forever, The Importance of sight
singing has certainly been emphasiz ed
~ the fact that nearly ali of large cit,
pubic schools r,qpire it Ia be taught
Ia al. grades, from the first up. The
work that is accomplished during. say
eight OF nlGe yeats of This system nc
Work would seem almost Incredible To
one who had given no thought To the
subjec'. Aud vet only very short
peticd each day devoted To it. 1t is To
h. earnestly hoped that our own school
here in Foere City may at an early
date rea'za the value OF sight singing,