The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-28
CHRISTMAS At CITY SCHOOLS,
ROOMS BECOMINGLY DECORAT-
ED--CHRIsTMAs TREE FOR
CHILDREN.
Art Work OF Original Designs Done
by SIXTH and Seventh Grade Chill
dren-k. Of p. Give Annual
Christmas Tree for Primary Grades

teachers and childen ornamented
their rooms with beautiful artistic
work, done by the children, and de-
signs drawn on the black boards
representing Christmas scenes, and
more important than all else to the
children. was the Christmas tree which
is annually given by the knights of
Pythias. where the children Of the
five primary grades see the tree
adorned with all manner Of tinseI and
colored ornaments and each one is
shared out portion of fruit and
candy.
In one Of the rooms Of the pri-
mary parades there were Christmas
scenes pictured on the black board,
chief Of which was beautiful picture
OF the three wise men with their
camels. as portrayed In Ben Hur,
drawn for the children by their teach
er. Other work of their own hands
was to be seen in various parts of the
room, all of which was to teach the
children the beautiful story Of the
Christ child. In another room the
windows were ornamented with little
red Christmas bells. made by the
children. and chains made Of colored
paper arranged altogether by the chill
dren to suit their own taste and after
Ideas of their own. In still another
room. that In which the children com
mence their echool work, was a
realistic snow scene made by the
children under the supervision Of
their teacher. showing a little cottage
covered with snow. with all Of the
surrounding grounds snow covered
and beautifully white.
From the sides Of the room stretch
ed acroas 70 the center Of the room,
where they are fastened to the light
fixtures. were garlands Of gaily COL
ored paper chains. all of which were
made by the children. The children
are very proud Of their work, and
especially 80, when they know that
their chains and designs are to be
put In use for Christmas ornamental
tions, where they will be seen by
those who visit the school. On the
black boards were pictures Of Santa
Clause and his reindeer, while other
artistic work Of the same nature,
done by the teacher. the children or
pupils Of higher grades. adorned the
walls. making the children realize by
pictures as we'll as by works what
Christmas means. All Of the work
tends to cultivate ideas Of originality
and to teach the children sentiment Is
along with growth Of heart and
growth Of mind.
Perhaps the most interesting Of the
work done in the school, except to
persons especially interested in the
children Of the primary grades, Is
that done by the girls Of the sixth
and seventh grades in original de-
signs in art work. In the seventh
garades the drawing from life and
the water colors. also from life, all
of which are original designs and
Ideas Of the children. are remark
able for little girls who have not had
any more time for special training in
those subjects than Is spared for
them from other studies. Some OF
the girls develop remarkable talent
In the short time that Is spared for
these studies at the school. In the
sixth grade the children were given
lessons In the making Of baskets,
boxes and other design Of similar
nature. After the word lessons they
are given the material and told to go
ahead with their work lession, which
Is done under the supervision of the
teacher. The designs were all their
own and the work was al done by
the girls. some of them working on
the same design, but no two Of the
The coloring was worked In by the
children to suit themselves and some
Of them perhaps beat the Indians
themselves who were their original
basket makers and from whom they
got their ideas, If not their designs.
The work gives the children q
chance to cultivate and show their
own ideas, while at the same time It
gives them originality, one thing al
ways striven for in the training of
the child mind.
The whole course Is to make the
children think that they are as free
at school as elsewhere and that to go
there is not to shut ones self up IN
kind Of Jail. as some OF them are
prone to regard II, but pleasure and