Evening journal., 1912-08-16

Delaware S nrst organic scnoOi
organized this summer at Arden has
a total enrolment of 20 children from
various states. Mrs. Marietta John
son, Of Fairhope, Alabama, who or
ganized the school here is meeting
with much success. Mrs. Johnson,
in addition to supervising the chill
dren. devotes considerable time TO
lecturing on the new educational
thought and on Wednesday made an
address at Arden on Organic Educa-
ton" In the course of her remarks
Mrs. Johnson said:
whoever heard OF grower OF
fine plants or animals, making re-
quirements of those plants or AMI
mals2 Instead. the wise student OF
nature, studies the symptoms Oh
health or disease and works in harm
onv with those symptoms. When
ever the plant or animal responds
enthusiastically, the treatment is
changed at once SO also with the
wise physician. He does not blame
the patient, when results are undesir-
able but changes the prescription!
"In our school work however, It IS
different. We do not study the needs
of the child as evidenced by the
SYMPTOMS but we plan a course OF
smdv and exercises which are de-
+ signed 10 help him, but under which
he often languishes or becomes rest
i've. Indifferent or even vicious. When
this occurs we do not change the
treatment, but console ourselves with
blaming the child.
"True education is organSc-that
is Il develops. strengthens and I'M
proves the body, makes the mind
more intelligent and the spirit sweet
erin fact the entire organism.
But can it be done? Why not|
what is to prevent cur taking the
desks out OF the room. and removing
the intellectual requirements OF the
first grades in any city? Instead or
desks. have tables at which the chill
dren NAV work. Instead OF require
ments-in reading, writing, numbers,
ctc. let the children sing and play,
make things of paper, card board,
and textiles, taking care that the
nervous system is not violated by
too close work Let them have gar
dens I'm which they may plant what
they choose and care for in their own
way with the sympathetic assistance
If the teacher. Let them have stor-
les of geography. history and litera-
lure. Give them an opportunity to
learn to speak some other modern
language than their own. Let them
have water colors and clay which
they may freely use. Allow the
teachers to take them out OF doors
at any hour she may wish, taxing
them to parks and museums for the
pleasure and profit of going and see
ing rather than TO prepare them to
pass" any particular examination.
Let them gain fundamental concep-
tions OF number by the use OF the
rule. handling things, counting, esti-
mating. weighing, measuring etc'
.et them hear beautiful poems recit-
ed bv the teacher and allow them 10
rocite them also, but do not force
the committing.
One wear spent in such occupa-
.tions and activities. will make every
six year old child in any city stron-
ger. sounder, more beautiful Of body
more intelligent. alert, and respon-
siNe. of mind, and swceter of spirit
even though he has not learned 70
read or write or do" arithmetic. He
has learned to think and observe and
reason as we'll as a six year old mind
is able. The integrity Of the nerv-
Gus system has been preserved and
the body improved in every way, and
the spirit has been happy and has
grown finer and more responsive. Is
not this education?
"Then why not continue the same
general scheme for the second, third
and fourth grades, enlarging the
scope, and using books as soon ai
they are needed to explain. verify, oi
broaden the child's experiences.
"The school of organic education Il
making an effort to literally meet
the demands OF the child. No re
quirements are made in the first 81
years. No so-called lessons M
grades. marks. or examinations, M
home tasks given.
THE children come to school Z
have a good time--to do things-t'
find out about things and incidental,
they learn many things The day il
full Of activity-singing, playing
working investigating ~ observinl
working - investigating - observing
story telling-g -gardening-using mum