The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-14

tthe enam lied variety which cannot
bend without eraekIns ana exposiag
tae eoarsef and weaker material be-
meath. 1 pity the child WHO has FOR.
Its teacher. one who, cannot play or
even symDathize with 1t in the inno-
cent games which tend 70 ha5pyfyI
the childish heart. The teacher who
cannot play with his pupils without
putting on the brakes is to be
pltied. One OF the most valid rea-I
sons for not placing boys in charge
iof q female teacher is, that she can
mot, az a rule, take part in their
games and exercises, but II we stop
to think for moment, we must re-
member that woman now holds al
10000 Job as superintendent Of the
Chicago schools. Mrs. Ella FlaggI
Young, is G5 years old, but has kept
her life sweet and is making sue
cess of school system in the second
largest city in America. DR.. Young
has shown what our women can do.
In Chicago whispering is not for
Ib!dden. Many pets are brought to
school, but the primary department.
rs where happiness begins, as well
as work, so play is a potent factor
in the work of ktndergartens. So
such schools need not fear the crit
ieisms Of those who. have not learned
that IT is psychological principle
as we'll as a physiological one, to be
found engaged in play. 1t has been
said that human mind could not
think intensely more than 40 min
iutes on any one subject without lag
gtng, then how dare we, as school
people, hold our pupils longer than
an hour and twenty minutes without
recess period. Good music upon
an instrument will enable childrenI
to march and move about for al
minute, relaxing the tired body and
mind.
rms taxes the place OF one form
OF play. Music has played an Inn
portant part in the work Of the kim
ldergarten. 1t creates an atmos-
Dhere of Joy and self-forgetiu!ness,
it is slowly, but surely coming to be
part OF the daily exercise of tho
average school room.
Play has done mighty things in
releasing children from the prison
like discipline of the Old time school
room. We now have relaxation
from the mental strain upon the
child who has just entered the realm
of textbooks, by means of guessing
games, gesture games, and lately
dramatic play has also entered the
school room as means Of the train
ing of children to quiet self-posses-
sion. and the freedom OF its 6ody.
The play grounds which almost
every large city in our land provides
for its children, first came into ex-
istence through the order of Emp
ress Frederick, the mother of the
present Emperor of Germany. One
OF the first things she did was to
have her husband prepare in one of
the beautiful gardens of Berlin,
sand piles, swings, etc., for the use
of children. She frankly acltnow!-
edged that this came about through
her interest in the play of children
in the kindergartens, thus we see
that play and school work has been
combined and now we have great
results. Pupils need something &c
enlist their interest and to arouse
enthusiasm. Principals, teachers
and superintendents should engaged
in healthful play, thereby Increasing
their energy and usefulness. They
will; live longer and be more vaiu-
able as school people. do not be-
Ilieve that the school is a place for
play alone, but enough time should
be given so that play might have its
relative portion. Superintendent
Maxwell, of New York City,, Super.
Iintendent .Brumbaugh of Philadel.
phia, and many other school men en-
dorse the principle of more play.
The teacher who fails to realize the
worth of play, and the parent who
fails to provide place for play OF
his own child has yet to learn a val
liable lesson in the study of child
life and the state that fails to pro-
vide these places, must he negligent
to its duty.
Let us study the problem of play,
and have some part in the making
Of healthy, happy life for those over
whom we now have control.