Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-06
AT THE ~kINDERGARTEN
LSfoux CIV Journal

lAClOoA ~ ~
When / was q child. l spake as a
child, L understood as a child. I
thought as a child: but when I became
a man., I put away childish things"
The wee bit of a girl is off to the
kindergarten; and it is an event in a
lifetime counted on the fingers of one
hand. There has been a world of talk
about it, with courage sometimes at
high ebb, and at nightfall sinking low.
But the little girl dearly loves to play
and to be with others Of her age and
disposition; and finally she is off to the
kindergarten. She has been warned to
look out for herself, II not to forget
to slow down at the car tracks. And
the bit Of a girl, holding the hand Of
another bit Of a girl of the neislbor-
hood, starts off for the kindergarten.
The way is familiar, but never before
had there been just that sense Of going
it alone. It was going TO sclool-go-
Ing for the first time. OF course it was
a. fancy that it was the first time; but
the school had been at home, and it
was not school at all. Sometimes there
was no one oAplay with, and every one
seemed to be busy, with only time to
stop for the hitching up Of sleeves and
to say that the little girl should AMI
that she shouldn't. But now the little
girl is of to kindergarten, sure she
knows some Of the Scholars" where
there is a crowd o. little people, and
There they are to play so many hours
and 20 home, and then they are to
come back and play so many hours
more.
1t is a large office to be the teacher
Of the Kindergarten. She must be one
who has rot put ava childish things,
one able to speak as a child. to under
stand as a child and to think as a
child. It is the boast of our civilization
that there are many such, and Of the
fact that the taxpayers do not COM
plain Of them. It is only a remark
able person, in the employ Of the pub
lie, OF whom the taxpayers do not com :
plain. There Is compensation in being
the teacher of the kindergarten. It is
not the best office for a sick headache,
but 1t is a delightful Office for one born
to it-for one overlooking with sympa-
thy for young life, and who Is a part
of 1t, with sunshine playing in the
heart. It is a great office for self dis
cipline. If the shadows creep in they
must be put way. and If there is pain
anywhere 1t must be assuaged. The Of
flee to make everybody happy, and to
drive away fear. II there are tears
they must be wiped away, and II ther
are burdens they must be taken up
1t Is an office that calls for a teacher,
and the way Of the teaching must be
for the saving Of the world.
The teacher is there to welcome the
wee bit Of a girl as she presents her
tirnid face: and she lelrns the name OF
the child as 1T is known at home. and
she a y good morning, and the right
thing in the right a And the wee
bit Of a girl is different from every
other Wet bit of a girl, and as different
as can be from the boy no larger and
from every other chap who has reached
the point where he thinks as a child OF
what he will be and OF what he will. dc
as a man. In the Kindergarten ther
Iare many dreams, and the teacher must
be, well up in all the dreams of the lit
tie. folk. She must be in the world. tho
being the teacher and responsible II
4 the school authorities, she IL not Of the
world. She must know the dreams OF
her little charges, and the while. ~
3 COMPARATIVE Isolation. cream her 0TE