Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-07-30

course, that there must be a choice
between the two.
In other words, if a daughter cam
not be educated along the lines Of
both practical accomplishments and
artistic attainments, it is better for
her, better for those about her, better
for the human race, that those fine
finishing touches be eliminated.
centraIizing at the Top.
But what has that to do with the
kindergarten? 1t may have nothing
to do with it, and again it may have
a great deal to do with it.
We are babies before we are men;
we are sprouts for the kindergarten
before we are eligible to the primary
schools; we must pass through the
primary grades before we get to the
high schools; we must get certain fin
ishing touches in the high school, or
elsewhere, before we can enter the.
colleges. 1l
So much depends upon the founda-
ton. The superstructure OF great
building is practically valueless il the
foundation was not properly laid.
With infinite pains the foundation
may be strengthened and possibly
perfected, but it is rarely the case
that is ever fully meets the require.
ments.
We sometimes think that 1t may be
our school system is topheavy. ii,
for instance, we must retrench In op-
Grating expenses, we cannot afford
to weaken the foundation Id order to
adorn the superstructure.
In other words, il we must cut some
where we better slash at the top.
Whether It Pays.
n It is not herein the purpose to dis
cuss whether the hinierg ten pays
or whether its does not. We are
frank to- admit that we do not know.
We are inclined to think, however,
that 1t does.
In some regions the Kindergarten
although it is called some other name
when so applied-has been carried
down to the very babies in arms. 1t
takes them at two or three years of
age, and even as soon as they can
walk. In short, it is nursery. But
we are not dealing with that sort Of
work just now. We are merely tell
ing something about the kindergarten
in Watertown for children four and
five years old or, that is, that is
what we started out to talk about.
but We have SO digressed that we
have almost lost sight Of the text
kindergarten in Watertowr,.
Watertown has five kindergarten
teachers, employed by the school
board, in part, at least, for the two
summer months Miss Durham,
with Miss Reichert as assistant, is iii
charge Of the Melleste classes, and
Miss Hukee. Miss Kocer and Miss An
derson are in charge of the two
rooms on the south side. The total
enrolment is about one hundred.
Miss Dunham is a graduate from
Chicago and has had several years
experience in kindergarten work.
Miss Kocer is in charge of the kin
dergarten department in All Saints
school at Sioux Falls
What the Children Do
A representative OF the Saturday
News spent day-a school day, for
the classes are conducted only III the
forenoon at the Mellefte class room,
The children assemble about 8 and
are dismissed about Is::30- two and
q half hours of playi
Play Is that all they do? Well.
about all that is to say, that's what
they think they are doing. And al
considerable portion of their work.
is real play really and truly play.
All Shades Of Grace.
The notes from piano mark the
beginning of the days work, and the
little pupils take their respective
places in step herewith Maybe they
are first seated at the tables, or pos
slbiy they form a circle, toeing the
large curved mark on the floor III
any event the first thing, after the
preliminary formalities, is some sort
of a game.
And It is interesting to note the
varying shades OF ease or discomfort
pictured on the little faces or seen
through the gestures, or noted In the
dinerent poses or movements. Some
of them. scarcely four years of age,
are as graceful as faWns. while others
move about like 1unbering bears That
perform on the street. Then there
are the variat ations intervening be-
tween tho extremes.
au and GaIIoping steeds.
q IN this particular instance among
the first games was that OF g
that is to say, 1t was modified form
of the Did fashioned tag OF days gone
by While standing ii q circle, one
little tot was chosen to hop and skip
Just inside the human ring and she
reached out and touch pnH of the
little squirming ngnres, and instant
81 he Tacs Kas en-, and % II passsd