The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-30
lEDUCATION DEPAR i.
THE USEs.O HE KINDERGARTEN.
81 ALICE N. PARKER.
....5.s 6: e

careers OF its Kindergarten chudren have
been carefully watched and followed. The
atisttcs show that no child who had his
years Of kindergarten training has ever
entered a prison Or penitenttary.l
Recognizing the cht1d's love OF and need
for play, the kindergarten SIyCs him
healthy. happy play, which has q, distinct
purpose and aim In the development OF
his three-fold nature, but into which the
child enters as joyfMly and uncolscleus-
ly-as freely as In his play at home or In
the street.
In the gife namely. ball. cube, cylin-
ders. building blocks OF various shapes.
tables and sticks. he acquires powers OF
concentration and attention, ideas OF
form. number: and color, dexterity In ma
nipulation and ebove@all. creative poWer.
In the occupations, which are sewing,
weaving, folding, card board construc
ton, clay modelling. painting. ami drtw-
ing, he develops great amount OF tech
meal skill as we'll as powers of self-ex-
preston and definite ideas. DR.. Harris
has said: mot only is this training Of
great Importance by reason of the fact
that most children must depend largely
upon manual skill for their future live
lihood, but from a broader point OF view,
we must value skill as the great potense
which is enancipating the human race
from drudgery by the aid OF machinery.
Inventions will free man from thraldom
to time and space" And again:t.1f the
school is to prepare especially for the arts
and trades. it is the kindergarten which is
to accomplish the object, for the training
Of the muscles, If it is to be a training
for special skill in manipulation, must
be begun early In growth. AS age adj
vances it becomes more difficult to ac-
quire new phases of manual dexterity.
Two weeks practice of holding objects
in his right hand will make the infant IN
his first year right-handed for life. The
muscles yet in a PUPPY consistency are
very easily set in any fixed direction. The
child trained for one year in Froep-l S
gifts and occupations will acquire a skill
full use of his hand and the na6it Of stc-
curate measurement Of the eye winch
! will be his possession for life.
! The kindergarten is not a place for teAt-
books or teaching, but for free develop
ment where every moment brings tue hap
piness which comes from an actively en-
ployed body and mind under 'udi 'it &,
well-adopted direction. have :1ot the
space to tell Of the excursions were tie
child is brought into direct contact With
nature and with the avocations II men.
Of the planting and gardening wiiicu be-
| gin the childs love for and study ns-
ture, or Of the stories and songs which
are his Introduction to the world of lit
erature and music.
Should not Richmond. as the largest city
| Of the South. to which all the others look
for leadership make every effort soon
| to follow the other large cities in giving
| this fnestimable benefit to her children
thus starting them towards useful, earn
est citizenship and grounding them in
habits which will result in the formation
of well-rounded character, which, I take
| it, is the highest aim of education?
In all cities where the Kindergarten has
become an integral part Of the school
system it has proved itself an invaluable
preparation for primary and manual work
ard is looked upon as a necessary founda-
ton.
Richmond, Va, March q.