El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-01

I nSmber Of large outdoor oldE LeSt'N'Al9
I held in so many parts Of the country
! In some Of these the old fashioned May
pole plays a prominent part Usually
the festival terminal with grace
! fuI dance, during when the noWSs
decked pole is covered with WeD
OF bright hUed rihb5Es ;ntcrldced rY
the youthful dane=rs in the way I'M
mOrtalized by Tennyson and other
English poets.
In some of the festivals, however
the May pole does not appear Inc
festival consists merely OF outdoor
games played by the children usuaIIy
with musical accompaniment Inc
most important Of these play 1estlVals
and the one having the greatest IN
fIuence in the country will be held IN
Washington today as one OF the eNe events
of the program Of the annual conVen-
ton OF the international kindergarten
union nov in session in the capital
city THIS festiva. represents the
only one of its kind conducted in any
Country. L is really revival OF the
Children's games used by FrOebel at
the beginning Of his work IN Germany,
and Miss Catherine Watkins, the head
Of tie Elncergartens IT. the Washing
ton public schools IS ent tied to the
crsdIt of quitting the icea into effect
in this country.
over fifteen hundred children viii
take part in this play festival which
will be held upon the grounds Of the
Smithsonian Institution. In this nat
ural setting the children will play
their games to music furnished by the
United States Marine band
Do Not Know How to Play
Modern educators deplOre the fact
that the children Of the present gen
tratiOn do not know how TO play The
lack Of space and the artificial con-
ditiOns Of modern life are largely to
blame for this loss and a strong effort
to increase the attention given to
children'S play is an important feature
of the recreation movement so well
under way. During the past decade
the playground movement has added
greatly to the amount Of space given
to the children for recreation purposes
But in every city the opening Of a new
playground serves only to demonstrate
the fact that children do not know
how to use IL. The play festivals
which are being held will help the
little folks to acquire the pleasure
which should come to each Of them
from the simple bodily exercise de-
veloped by the oldfashiOned outdoor
games. When the kindergarten chill
dren learn it, they will carry the bless
ing with them through the later
grades.
Commissions Aid Work
In most Of the cities the play fes-
tivals include children Of all ages. In
Kansas City over 1000 children took
part in the last one. In New York
held under the auspices Of the park
commission, which not only encourages
outdoor play. but furnishes music to
accompany it This play has to be
under supervision. Of course, and the
number Of persons training as recrea-
ton or play directors is increasing
each year Each game must have
distinct purpose. This NAV be either
in the development Of the physical,
mental or moral nature OF the child
and the wise supervisor knows how
TO present these in sugar coated form
as children naturally object to being
continually kept at noticeable imprOv-
ing pursuits.
The advantages OF supervised play,
OF which these May day festivals dem
onstrate only one feature, are be-
coming recognized by school authOri-
tiles in number OF cities In order
tnat the ordinary school recess may
De OF the greatest physical benefit to
the children a supervisor OF games is
now being employed. Instead OF the
entire school being dismissed for re-
recess at the same hour. the grades are
given their recess at different periods
which gives more space for play in
the school yards and also permits the
supervisor to give the play best suited
to the size Of the children. This
could not be possible If all the chill
dren had recess at the same time.
Aids Intellectual VigOr.
With all the Wanted advance OF
modern education, the games most
used in the modern play festivals IN
der the supervision Of a play director
are those that the children Of former
centuries played OF their own volition.
In having lost the power OF natural
play, some educators claim that the
modern child has also lost the inteIlec-
tual YigOr of former generations.
While a century ago fewer children
were educated than now. IL remains
undisputed that those who had educa- I
tional advantages made greater pro-
gress at an early age.
The average child does not now be- I
gin to study languages or higher /
mathematics until after he has COM
cOrding to modern standards requires |
him to be approximately IA years old I
A century ago IT was not unusual to I
find a boy of 10 reading Caesar or
metrical problem with the absorption I
a modern child would only be permit /
ted to eXpend upon a play puzzle. The 4
college graduate Of today completes his !
older than did the graduates Of so I
years ago.
Child Taught Through Play.
Few teachers or play directors viii !
be able to secure the results attained /
by Mrs. J. B. Stoner, of Pittsburg, who 4
educated her own little daughter along /
lines distinctly original, but at least /
the example she has set will be help /
ful to every one interested in the edu-
cation Of children.
Little Winifred SackvilIe StOner is
now 10 years old and has just passed 4
her college entrance examination. She
speaks five languages fluently and has
written several childrens books. She
is a graceful dancer and also a musi-
cian- Her mother has taught her en-
tirely through play. Their study
games last two hours each morning
and most OF the remainder OF the day,
in pleasant weather. is spent in out
door play. Winifred is skilful in ath-
letics and has unusually well developed I
senses Of sound. touch and sight. From
her babyhoOd her play has been d.
rected by her Watchful mother who /
devoted herself to the highest develop !
ment Of every talent. When the child
began to talk the spelling Of the words
she used was taught to her as a nurs-
cry game Her mother read aloud and
recited poetry to her before she could
speak a word. Winifred has never been
required to study beyond her natural
inclination and her mother regards
her as an example OF what can be Sc
cured by education through play.
Benefits Future Studies.
Several other children in this cOun-
try who have been brought up in a
similar fashion are demonstrating the
possibilities Of the result Of properly
utilized play. The four children OF DR..
and Mrs. A A Berle, of Cambridge,