The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-05-18

Aside from what most people con-
slider the primary purpose of the art
of story telling, which is merely to
amuse, there are many other pur-
poses more far-reaching than simply
keeping a child amused for an hour
or so.
What is a story essentially? p 1t is
primarily a work of art, and its cnleI
function must be sought in the line
of the uses of art. The message OF
the story is the message of beauty
it's chief purpose is to give JOY, to-
gether with the stirring and feeding
of the mind It's greatest use to the
child is in the everlasting appeal OF
beauty by which the soul OF man is
constantly pricked to new hungers,
uuickened to new perceptions and SO
given desire to grow.
The story teller who has entertain
| ed the listening children for short
period of time has inevitably added
something to the vital powers of their
souls. She has given a wholesome
exercise to the muscles Of the spirit,
| has opened up new windows OF uhe
imagination, and added some line or
color to the ideal of life and art
which is always taking form in the
heart of a child. And in this cOnnec-
| ton. in considering storytelling IN
| the school loom, the teacher cannot
only accomplish that vital purpose L
have lust mentioned, but can also
cause a relaxation for the tense
school room atmosphere, valuable for
it's refreshing recreative power and
also she can add a new link to the
chain of happy relations between
teacher and pupil, one of the most
effective methods Of forming the
child's habit of paying attention. Also
| this is good way to assist children
as we'll as older people in the~haDlt
OF concentration.
Some people may consider fairy
stories as having no purpose Whatso-
ever. But these stories may be USED
AS a means to an end. For cannot
truth be presented through the guise
of images in these very stories? Ele-
mental truths of moral law and gem
eral types of human experience are
presented in the fairy tale, in the po-
etry of images, and although the child
is aware only of the image at the
thine. the truth enters with it, and
becomes a part of his individual eX-
perience to be recognized in its rela-
lions at a later stage. Every truth
and type so given brOadens and deep
ems the capacity of the child's inner
| life, and adds an element to the store
from which he draws his moral IN
| ferenceS.
Story telling can accomplish great
| things in impressing upon children
the truths of nature, history or sci
ence and the cid classics. You can
teach child interesting facts about
bees, butterflies, flowers, fire and
water by telling him certain stories
and you can open his eyes to colorS
and processes in nature by telling
certain others. For his mind is like
plaster of paris, when for a time 1t
| may be moulded as you will with the
! greatest ease 1t is also like dry,
! thirsty earth, drinking in as II 1t
were famished the important truths
and facts that will stay with him al
ways.
! The nature story is used to illus
trate the habits of animals, the laws
Of plant growth, to stimulate sc1en-
| tific fact. The purpose of the hlstor-
| ical story is to vitalize the concep-
| ton of past events and to bring their
! characters into relation with the pres
ent; they foster rare consciousness,
the feeling of kinship. and the com
munity of blood. Genuine patriotism
! is generally recOg nized as having its
roots in early training along historic
| lines. These stories also stir tAe de-
sire of emulating goodness and wis
! dom. Bible stories carry their
/ thoughts not only into the far past,
but forward into things eternal.
| These stories create hero worship IN
the child and his desire will be to fol-
| low as nearly as possible his ideal.
| Stories may be woven around the old
classics, and the child will never for
get them Mythology can also be
| made attractive to them by story tell
| ing. When one is old enough and
wise enough to look backward over
his past life he begins to discern the
| truth that to all the richest gifts OF
| life his home has made its indispen-
sable contribution. The stories heard
when we are children have much to
do with the shaping of our destinies,
little as one may believe. Many en-
inent men have said that their whole
lives were SHAPED by a story heard in
their youth which so fixed their i'm
gination on inspired high ideals that
laIl the following life had been differ
ent. all because of that simple story.
If such is the case. and it is, it is
iimDortant that children be told stO
ries that will arouse this feeling.