Newark post., 1913-04-23

wO or the little girls We're
matching colors at table. One of
the boys was standing near, choos-
ing a piece of crayon with which
to draw. He. was seized with sud
den desire to make face at the lit
tie girls, and he waited not upon
the order Of doing so.
Mrs. Anderson saw him. Now.
1t would be almost second nature TO
say, "Johnny, don t do that, " I'M
der such circumstances. But it is
not permissible under Montessori
methods.
! "Johnny, | think it would be
nice for you to put the number
game i'll order,' said Mrs. Andcr-
son as sweetly and gently as if
Johnny had just looscd an angelic
smile. 1t so happened that the
number game was at the other end
OF therOom. Without a word John
ny started for the new task. But
he was just bit shame faced, and
when 1t came time to set the table
for lunch, he was so gallant and
and so soIicitous for the comfort of
every one else that his attitude
could hardly have been put down
as accidental.
Again, one Of the little girls was
making a big noise in an attempt to
put away the "broad stairs, by
which the children are given their
first lessons i'll large and
small. =
Don t make so much noise. -
would have been the proper verbal
usage under such circumstances.
according to the good old ways.
NO BLAME FOR BEING GOOD
Elizabeth, think you are try
ing to carry too much, said Mrs.
Anderson, and the noise ceased.
The commOnest criticism I have
heard of the Montessori system is
that 1t permits too great degree of
freedom to foster disci ipline. Yet
have never visited any ordinary
kindergarten i'll which there was
better order or in which children
appeared to be more respectful of
the rights Of those around them. Of
course, there were only a few child
rem present the day / was there,
but seven healthy youngsters can
raise a fair crop Of disturbance
when the teacher is otherwise occu-
pied If they so desire.
| could not blame them being
good, for they had so many things
to DO AS Il matter of fact, ! had
not been there ten minutes before
| asked the privilege of taking the
texture test.
So very young lady who had
just succeeded III matching seven
sets Of different texture while
blindfolded. vacated her miniature
chair, and, being duly blindfolded.
took my first lesson a la ATontes-
S0ri.
There are two squares of each
texture, from smooth, light silk to
Il rough, heavy crash, with five Gin
betWcenS. some Of which are so
nearly alike as to make the task far
from easy. The very young lady
muSsed them up for me. and after
much cropping and lingering.
completed the test and got a thank
you for having matched them all.
The 5-year~oId who preceded me
had done it in less than half the
time, and she had not tried it more
than twice before. If you will make
the test yourself, you will under
stand better than words can tell
just how this simple operation not
only educates the sense Of touch
which is one-haIf of all you have,
were you suddenly blinded-but
makes for seIf-confdcncc, calmness
and poise.
Poise is a matter Of large consid-
Grafton in Doctor Montessori's cat
alog Of necessary attainments, and
poise is matter of such large inn
portance in life that it is a wonder
to me no one ever before thought
of making it a primary considera-
ton in the education of little ones.
OF course, we hear of young ladies
who have finished in high school
being sent away for "poise, polish
and politeness," but an ounce of
poise i'll childhood is worth about
twenty tons ten years later.
THE MACHINERY
Perhaps you would like to know
just how this method is worked out,
step by step.
Well, the first set of apparatus
consists Of eight wooden frames
about eighteen inches square. On
the first of these the madras cover