Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
CHILD PROBLEMS
BEFORE TEACHERS
kindergarten instructors Dis
CuSS Social Outlook at
Closing Sessions.
METHODS OF TRAINING
MINDS CONSIDERED
DR.. Nearing Declares Schools Are
Filling Minds of Youths With
Useless knowledge.

Discussion of the child as 4 social
problem and the rival Montessori and
Froebel methods OF teaching young chill
drsn marked the closing sessions Of the
twentieth annual meeting % the Interna-
ton Kindergarten Union of the New Ma
tional Museum and Memorial Continental
Hall yesterday and last night. To-day
the delegates to the convention are maxi
ing a pilgrimage to Mount Vernon a.
guests of the kindergarten Club OF Bal
timore.
The delegates to the convention last
night listened to a remarkable ARA ign
ment OF present day social and economic
conditions and to an unsparing criticism
Of American public school systems. made
by Dr. Scott Nearing OF the University
OF Pennsylvania. They also heard OF
the constructive work being inaugurated
by Miss Julia Lathorp, chief OF the fed
eral children's bureau.
Cites Problem of Children.
DR.. Nearing said that at present the
people capable of raising intelligent chill
dren are not having them; that TO large
extent the men who have large families
properly, and that the public schools are
not fitting children mentally or physically
for the lives which extend beyond them.
The speaker declared that investigation
shows that from $3.50 to $500 year is
necessary to support family of father.
mother and three children under four
teen years OF age and keep them in
state of efficiency. Only about one-half
of the men working in our industries
N.
many children are forced to go to school
actually hungry.
Every child beyond the second in the
ordinary workingman's family is a calam-
DIR. Nearing startled the kindergarten
teachers by saying that most school
teachers and professors are overpaid,
considered from the good work they do
for the country. The schools are not
holding children In them, he said. since
most children leave the schools early
in their careers. The public schools fill
the minds of children with useless knowl-
edge, he said, and do not train them to
think, 1.-The most valuable thing of all
Miss Lathrop Describes Work.
: Miss Lathrop praised the democracy OF
the kindergartens. Speaking of the work
OF her bureau, she told of its foundation
and aims. and then said that many chill
sarily. The bureau is now investigating
infant mortality. she said. hoping to be
able to teach people how TO save the lives
of their young.
"Our bureau is to be a bureau of in
formation" she continued. I'VE want To
disseminate knowledge about children
and about child welfare work carried on
In all parts OF the world. Many parents
need advice and are willing TO take IL,
even from old-maid teachers"
Miss Lathrop said there are some things
parents cannot do for their children
Cities must keep their food and milk sup
plies clean and pure. she said. and must
provide Fairgrounds, and regulate thea
tiers and dance halls. In this connection
ton. saying that II is possible TO drink
milk here now without questioning its
purity.
Miss Alys Bentley of Washington sang
a group of children's songs of her own
composition, and was enthusiastically APP
plauded.
Methods of Teaching.
Widely divergent opinions regarding
the Montessori principles and methods of
teaching the young were expressed at the
afternoon meeting at the New National
Museum. The methods are the outgrowth
Of houses of childhood" established in
Rome by Nine. Montessori. and have fur
nished the theme for discussion among
teachers of the young and psychologists
for several years. number OF Montes-
sori schools have been established in the
United States and other countries, and
great success is claimed for them.
Dr. Myron T. Scudder of New York
showed photographs of Montesso.
schools in Rome and other places. and
of the actual working of the Montessori
methods He said that he was layorab.e
q
they were good and true. \ study OF the
principles intensifies the interest OF kim
dergarten teachers in their work. he said.
Nine. MontesSori teaches that liberty
is to be limited by the rights of others.
and by politeness, he said. but that within
these limits much freedom is allowed To
the children. The methods calm children
and make them steady, he said, and re-
ligion is not stified, as has been claimed.
He declared that Nine. Montessori has
brought a remarkable message to those
who will look on her teachings with a fair
and open mind.
Criticises the Methods.
DR.. William Heard Fitzpatrick of Teach
ers' College. Columbia University, criti-
cised the Montessori methods and priu-
ciples. Her spirit toward science is good.
he said. but her practice is bad. Some
parts Of her courses are approved by all
and are not new to America, he declared.
The methods show that it is possible To
allow children more freedom during kin
dergarten age.
Probably We ought to break UP ths
extent to which We dictate programs TO
children in kindergartens," he added I'VE
should allow them more individual choice.
IS Is done in the Montessori methods.
He said that the system does not al
ow SUFFICIENT play of the imagination
IF children, but that ii is built upon
an outgrown psychology.
DIR. Lghtner Wilmer OF the University
If Pennsylvania declared that unless the
Underlying principle of the kindergartens
s changed, Montessori schools will sup
,lant them. Mime. Montessori is correct
n her foundation that teachers must
irst learn to know their children, he
aid He added that she had achieved
result which astounded the world.
Tells of Visit to Schools.
Miss Meta Faris of Cleveland. Ohio.
told Of a recent visit TO the Montesson