The Washington herald., 1911-10-17
NATURE SCHOOL FOR
YOUNG CHILDREN
Affords the Highest Form of
Development.
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
CONTINUED FROM Yesterday

CONTINUED FROM 1ES1EhDA1.l
in the village of Fairhope, Ala, across
the bay from Mobile, is a little school
that is often called a reform school-not
to reform the children, but to reform the
methods of teaching.
There is a kindergarten for children
under seven years of age doing the US
ual kindergarten work. but no dictation,
nor close work. nor finished work for
exhibition is permitted.
Children from seven to thirteen years
of age constitute the life class, where
they simply live as happy and whole
some life as possible.
In the first division or the life class
the children under ten use no books, ex-
cept as they themselves desire to learn
to read. Instead of the formal work Of
reading and writing and number, the
children have music-that is, singing
pretty songs, adapted to their year, for
The pleasure of singing, not to be able
to read music or write music. They Of
ten act out or dramatize some song or
poem. Many poems are committed by
the children, not as a task, but by hear
ing the teacher recite the same poem a
number of times. They have exercises
in fundamental conceptions of number
daily.
Children Taught Through Tales.
Storytelling occupies an important
place on the programme. in which the
children become acquainted with all the
hest fairy tales, legends. folklore. and
myths and great stories of history in the
most natural, delightful way without
danger of impairing the eyesight by
bending over a book.
Spoken language is cultivated in the
story hour German is also taught by
the conversational method. One of the
most delightful items of the daily pro-
gramme is the walk.
No definite order is Followed, but the
direction OF the walk is determined by
the interest of the day.
Sometimes a neighboring pond is
visited TO watch the development of the
tadpoles into frogs. Sometimes the woods
are secured to discover the elusive pistil
Of the pines. The Identification of trees
in winter occupies many walks. In the
spring the appearance daily of some
new blossom occupies the interest for
many days.
Then there is the building of the birds
nests to watch, and all of the interest
ing bird life to observe.
An outdoor gymnasium affords ample
opportunity for acquiring many bodily
dCCOlDpllS IlInenIS.
One period daily is given to hand work,
and one also to the development of con-
ceptions of color, form, &c. Paper sloyd,
cardboard, construction. scissors, and
paste. clay, water colors, and pencils
are used.
Taught Plant Life.
Experience in growing plants is given
every child. Plots of ground are laid
out in which every child may plant what
he chooses and cultivate it in his own
way, with the assistance of the teacher
and the presence and activity of his fel-
lows to stimulate his perseverance. A
well-eQuipped manual training depart
ment affords employment for both boys
and girls as soon as they are old enough
10 use the tools.
The older division Of the life class
from ten to thirteen years OF age-con-
tinue the activities and experiences of
the younger group, but they come gradu-
ally to books.
This school began with eight pupils. 1t
now has 125
Such nature schools should be estab-
llshed all over the land, and no little
child under ten should ever be sent into
school where the use OF books IS i'm
perative. Any child who studies ma
tuTe under wise teachers until ten and
begins then to learn his letters will
stand as high as others of his age when
he reaches the high school period. And
his health and powers of concentration
will exceed the average. Experiment and
see.