The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-07-02
The Rights Of Our Children:

slider chlld-studV mystery and to
surround the study of children with
"isms" instead of common sense.
A noted educator has said: "That
the training Of q child should begin
before it exists"
We insist upon skill, experience,
and wisdom from our ministers, ply
sicians, and teachers, but if the child
was guided by qualified mother,
perhaps ministers would have more
time to be pious: physicians an oppor
tunity to attend clinics; teachers a
chance to recuperate from nervous
prostratiOn.
Women have accomplished much in
the last century. They have become
experts in business, science and art,
but in attempting to assert their rights
and free themselves from traditional
bondage they have lost sight of their
greatest advantage and privilege-the
training of their children.
The educated young woman of to-
day elicits praise for her musical
ability; her deftness with cards ex-
cites envy from gambler; she tam
goes beautifully fact she is mas
ter of every art except preparation for
motherhood. MlR s,s'ks, e1s...<,- '>at' lBlE
Watch a mothers manipulations
with her first infant, then bribe the
family physician for an expression!
After infancy the same blissful
ignorance accompanies the child to
school. He is left with the teacher
very much as a broncho is led to a
Orse-trainer, with the remark, II
can't do anything with Johnny; may
be YOU cam
So the responsibility of disciplining,
instructing, and mothering is thrust
upon the oyerburdened teacher, who
musters all the forces within her to
cope with the little ''broncho.
The child's early school life is often
marred by impressions received from
thoughtless parents. The repeated
threat, "The teacher will fix you,'
often causes small Johnny to philoso-
phize. If he is a fearless, adventur-
some Johnny, he has planned surprises
for the teacher, but if he is timid,
fearful Johnny, his first school days
are handicapped.
! The majority of parents do not real
ize the necessity of preparation for
school-life. The Montessori Method
of Education, which is revolutioniZing
the educational world, is based upon
simplicity. The methods of this WON
derful Italian doctor and teacher are
so easy and simple that a mother
ordinarily intelligent may train her
child. A child of four is readily
taught to recognize words in script by
the use of simple devices in the home.
One Of the most helpful devices in
teaching reading is the writing of
words in script upon oblongs of paste
board ten to twelve inches in length.
These words should be at least foul
inches high, with the letters well
spaced This collection may be grad
ually increased until a vocabulary of
words used daily is formed. The
child is allowed to build houses,
bridges, or anything he chooses, with
the pasteboard oblongs. Soon he be-
comes familiar with these words, and
a desire to tell something or form
sentences possesses him. When he
recognizes ten or more words like
pussy, mouse, run, catch, the, see,
etc., he shows cleverness in placing
the words, and soon he is expressing
some thought dear to him, as, II saw
pussy catch the mousse
Children regard this exercise as
play although they are learning read
ing and language, besides laying a
foundation for fine penmanship.
A sack of clothes pins is all the
material needed to teach number.
Spread a long, narrow strip of
newspaper upon the floor; make two
log houses of clothes-pins on one side
of the paper, which is called river,
then build two clothes-pin log houses
on the other side of the imaginary
stream. Do not preface the number
play with an assertion, nor insist that
two and two make four. The arrange
ment may not impress him the first
time, but some day he will tell you
with shining eyes of his wonderful
discovery.
The teacher who directs a child,
aided by these simplest of methods,
finds the first school-year JOY and
delight.
There are countless devices, and the
mother who has not thought along
these lines will be surprised to find
original plans occurring to her.
The busy, tired woman, who feels
that she hasn't time, is deceived, for
these aids and suggestions are time