The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-16
LITTLE TOTS KNEW
How Pupils Of a Second Grade
School Knew Musicians and
Their Work.
An Illustration Of Modern Effective
Methods in the Public
Schools.

Sense training seems to be the para
mount object in our later day education,
but only too often that training has no
value aside from the quickening of the
perceptions. 1t is not impossible, how
ever, to train the senses and at the same
and highly educative. A visit in second
grade room in one Of the schools In the
city proved this conclusively. The work
there was done in the lines of music The
district Is one where the most refining
influences and most enlightening methods
can be employed with the greatest results,
for very few of the children have homes
where there is any culture or any attempt
to improve by the worlds triumphs in ar
ttst1c beauty The design was to give the
children some of the best music and to as
sociate 1t in their minds with the COM
posers themselves while instilling a love
for the best. ''Of course said the princi-
pal, this is only a beginning"
Rest position" said the teacher to the
little tots who waited curiously to see
what the teacher was going to do for the
visitor. Now we'll see who can tell me
Many little hands were seen shaking in the
air. some grimy from the recess frolic.
"Who, Mary?'
That's Haydn" said Mary, twisting her
apron with delight because teacher had
called on her when there was visitor.
AIQ the LedCner went on not as
much surprised and happy as Mary wished
her to be.
'Beethoven,'' said John, unable to wait
until he was called upon.
YES" said Miss Jones' looking so hurt
that John slid way down in his seat. "And
now you may tell me who each one is as I
put the picture up Mendelssohn, Jo-
hannus Brahms, Robert Schumann, Schu-
bert, Samuel Francis Smith, Julia Warde
Howe. There the yare, all in a row. ook,
look sharp. Now, heads on desks"
Down went each little head and not one
peeked, that would spoil the game The
| teacher selected two Of the pictures and
one looking now. in a minute hands are
waving frantically; they know. (Which
ones did change, Martha?"
'Haydn and Beethoven" pipes small
voice.
! This was repeated several times; now
and then some one made a mistake, but it
was not often, the children knew the faces
and who they were. They had gained not
only the power to see accurately, but they
had learned to know some of the greatest
faces that have ever smiled on this earth
| Who'll tell me- said the teacher, "the
name Of this man and sing a song that
| he wrote?"
| There was a moment of absolute quiet
/ then tiny little barefooted boy, witt
| permission, walked to the front of the
room. He took the picture and held +
/ before him. Samuel Francis Smith made
this song, 'and his little voice began quay
eringly, my Country, IT'S Of Thee" Their
the whole school sang it, the little voices
i giving new sweetness and beauty to thu
= song. s.
I Similarly, songs from each one of tn
4 great composers, whose pictures they had
II were introduced and the children sans
I with the same apparent enjoyment the!
show when the song is a wildly hilarious
! bit of musical extravaganza. There was
4 great difference of opinion as to the favor
. tie; Brahms had many devotees while 9th
ers were partial to eBethovens .Mornin;
!, Hymn After this. exercise, in way Q
sense training, a bar or two was sung from
one or another of the songs and the chill
dren were asked to tell from what sons
|, it was taken.
This is how one of the exercises Of pur
sense training was dignifed and ennoble
: by bringing into it some Of the best tn
: world has to offer and by bringing it int
/. the barest Of lives. These children are no
8 only taught to see and remember, to hea
and to recognize, but they are given a life
long inspiration and ideal, as well a
:. knowledge Of something valuable, and tn
germ Of culture.
! And the last words the visitor heard i
{ chorus as he closed the door were:
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon tn
4 bank.
Here will we sit and let the sound of swe'
music
Creep In our ears