Evening journal., 1904-04-25
PROGRESS MADE BY
MODERN KINDERGARTEN
Many Changes Since Work
Was Inaugurated by
Frederick Froebel

one Of our progressive kindergarten
ers has sad: "The kindergarten system
Is growing one. and not a fixed code
and am glad to say the progressive |
spirit of the age has entered into the
kindergarten, showing itself in many
ways in methods and work.
When we think of that great man.
Frederick Froebel, who, by his earnest
and persistent endeavor, gave to the
world the kindergarten, we can only
conclude that If he were living today
he would be among the first in all lines
Of progress and advance. was ne not
In advance of the educational Thought
and method of his time2
Scientists in all fields have forced the
secrets of nature: have interpreted
mans life. his language, his manner,
md process Of development. We have
these products which Froebel did not
have. Why not use these products Of
bur age and generation for the benefit
of the children Of today?
Surely 1t is for the kindergartener
and teacher to seize upon and make
the best use of such opportunities.
Some one else has declared that TO
Froebel, progression, development eVo-
luton were words fraught with deep
est and dearset significance. Let US
Examine briefly then some Of the phases
of evolution that have taken place IN
the material and methods of using 1t
In the kindergarten.
In the Gift Work." or use Of the
blocks for building. much larger blocks
have been introduced, and is pretty
generally conceded that the use Of the
blocks by the children according to the
dictation of the teacher should, TO
great extent. be replaced by the use of
the blocks by the children as a means
Of free expression Of some thought OF
interest to them.
In the Occupation work we ma
many changes: the small hand work IN
perforating and sewing has been done
AWAY with. and we find sewing cards
with large holes for large-eyed needles,
and coarse zephyr. Instead OF paper
for weaving we often use felt CLOTH
I linen or zephyr; and for the use of the
last named the children make their own
tiny looms, the products of which are
bright mats, tiny blankets, etc.
There is much of what is called con-
structive work now in the kindergarten.
We all know the child's great desire to
do. and to make, and If he can make
something that is really worth While,
something not only pretty but useful
as well, he is happy. At the Chautau-
qua Summer Kindergarten conducted
by Mrs. Page, of Chicago, / saw the
children making wooden rakes: the
long handles and cross pieces had been
made at the carpenters, the children
put them together and, with a row OF
good-sized nails for the teeth they
made quite good rakes. Boats, made
of wood with bits of muslin for sails,
wooden boxes for flower seeds; any
thing indeed they can plan and carry
out with carpenters tools develops Gre
ative activity, and ability not only tc
make a treasure, but to use it as well
There is an advance in the stories
told. OF this Miss Patty Hill says
1--WE tell fewer stories and repeat Of
tener, until the child can tell the same
We are trying to find stories with good
wholesome elements of good and evi
without sentimentalty or tendencies <
Eelf-conscious goodness
There has been much unfavorabl'
criticism in regard to the kindergarten
and in many cases it has been just
owing to inefficient kindergarteners
and poor kindergartens.
But when these cases are spoken o
work as a whole. we feel that a grea
injustice has been done. We wish t.
lead all parents and teachers to under
stand the Importance OF the kindergar
ten as an educational factor in tn
school system, that the aim, foundel
upon common sense. and not sentimen
tality, is for definite and practical re
suits and that II is a system whic
viii change and adapt itself to the de
velopment and growing thought of tn
age.
IT is right, of course, that the kinder
garten should show a certain degre
Of conservatism towards such adapta
ton: we do not need or wish to &
heedlessly into new ideas and practices
vithout much thought and understand
ing. but we do desire to enrich
every possible way the hearts an
minds of the little ones entrusted I
our care.
Mary A. Taylor.