Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-11-19
KINDERGARTEN.

To the Editor Of the Alexandra Gazstte:
Dear Sir: At the request ofan Alexsn'
dris organization in the interest Of Kin.
dergarten work. beg of you space
for few observations which are the re-
suit of personal experience, at leas. on
the part of one mother.
Although the kindergarten is Ger
man institution, originally, America Is un'
uuestionably the home today OF the
modern kindergarten; it has done a
world of good here in all classes ofsOciety
aud the fact that in ell cities of impor-
tance 1t is under the public school
government and a part Of the school
| system, is sufficient proof OF this fact.
Frederick Froebei, the founder of u,
gave his life to its discovery and pro-
mitigation. As a college professor, a
high school teacher, primary teacher
he worked backward, instead OF along
the line nf personal advancement In his
endeayer 10 locate deficiency in the
preparation of students for their lie
work. E.. last be worked back, all
along the line, 10 the nursery, and for
twenty years wandered among the pee
pie, studying the minds of little
children. Under lowly peasants
roofs, or in the shadow OF
ancient castle walls; in the sum
mer fields, where babies kicked their
dimpled legs in the shade while their
mothers resped in the sun; at festivals
and christening; in the quiet twilight
when the tired peasant mother spent
sweet hour playing with her bsby,
Froebel made bis observations. What
sll mothers in sll CLASSES loved to DO,
and what all babies loved 10 have done,
be recognized as primary need OF
humanity. PlsY-play, with pro-
phetic meaning; play, that should be
symbolic of love and of work. C)uld
the all too short play-iime of life be pro-
loDged and made symbolic of life's lsrgei
n eds9 Aod 20 Froebel formulated his
Smother Plays" and the other parts o!
his kindergarten system, arranging a
scheme of symbolic educatiOn--s NINA
ture citizenship. "a systematic sequence
of experiences through which the
child grows in self-knowledge, clear OBJ
.ervation and conscious perception of
whole circle of relationships"
The games of the kindergarten are
pictures, symbols, to the child, of the
work and experiences awaiting his ma
unity; tests Of bis stieOgth; proofs OF his
talent and his power. Ia initiating the
action of the father bird, seeking food
for mate aud nestliDgs, a sense OF male
responsibility daWns in the boys mind;
in initiating the brooding Of the mother
bird, divine forebodiDgs of maturity
wake in the little girl; in Initiating
the work of the carpenter, the farmer,
be miller, the wheelwright. the
wood-chopper, the child feels the
10y of activity, the new born confidence
10 his own physical and mental cOmps-
tence. When be leads the game, be
tastes the JOY of precedence, and realizes
the value of merit. In the constant at
mOsphere of gentleness, be learns court
esy. Music, flowers, sun;hiDe, cleanle-
ness, become familiar 10 bis end dear.
He is ashamed to be otherwise then
his companions and surroundings are.
Social relationships begin to present
themselves to his consciousness; the
beginnings of citizenship. He cannot
always lead; he can only have his share;
he isA't "It'-there are others. His
wishes must be, somehow, adjusted TO
their wishes, bis rights to their rights.
Democracy Is strong point OF the K'n-
dergarten.
'Iet all of us who came here in car
riages, sit by ourselves" lisped one
angelic looking child, 10 a Washington
dancing class, to another. That is not
the spirit of the kindergarten; perhaps
the kindergarten would have counter
acted in those children the eVilinf1ence
of their own snobbith mammas.
Itis wholesome for the child from rich
home to find that the child from little
home can outdo him, can weave and
build and model more cleyerly than be.
Aud oh what does it mean TO the little
lass whose ginghsm apron is patched
aud oui-growD, when she is chosen to
play mOther.bird, or be the hostess 10
the lovely "visiting game" The kin
dergarten is pronouacedly democratic.
1t helps to take the nonsense out Of the
rich, it helps 10 build up the self-con6-
dence in the poor.
1t must never be forgotten that chill
dren are profoundly, upblushingly imsg-
iuaiive. "Plsying things" iswhst they
love to do, aud the lsud Of mske-belieSe
Is their fagorite camping ground.
Recognizing that this imaginative
quality exists 10 children, we would
make the wisest use of it for their own
true development, and know no hing
better than the kindergarten to make
fho ;maoination useful. practical, eyolu-