The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-15
THE Il A KIN
lie T T z B
kindergarten and Montessori
By Frederic J. Haskin.

several children may become tired
OF a lesson while others are enjoy
| ing it. In the Montessori class the
child selects the thing he wants 10
do and continues 1t until he IS tired
Then he puts il away in a perfectly
orderly manner and proceeds 10
select something else
The Montessori system is now fac
ing the same difficulties encounter
by the kindergarten a quarter OF
century ago. 1t has suffered and
will continue TO su1er from the NJ rs
directed enthusiasm OF number Of
people who are quick TO grasp at =
new thing without taking the time
10 master the scientific principle IN
voIved. Unframed mothers eagerly
ordered the apparatus and calling IN
few neighbor children endeavored
to accomplish in a few weeks that
which an experienced teacher would
not hope for in months. The kinder
garten began in the same way Any
woman fond OF children could pur-
chase kindergarten supplies and
start a class, the success OF which de-
Ponds upon whether or not she had
grasped the true principles OF the
kindergarten ideal
At least a hundred and fifty Amer
lean women have gone to Rome
during the last two years and taken
the training in the previous sessions
of the school Most of them are
teaching classes in this country
Mothers who have attended these
classes are usually able 10 utilize the
material proftably at homes al
though close application and atten-
ton are necessary TO secure the pest
results A considerable amount OF
literature is now being issued by the
Montessori Educational Association.
which is helpful 10 those out OF
reach of the classes. One mother
upon a remote western ranch out OF
reach of any educational resources
for her little children. claims that
the Montessori material has wrought
blessed miracle" for her.
The kindergarten began. as has the
Montessori system. with few scat
tered classes. first of rich children,
then of poor children provided Tor
by philanthropy, and eventually IT'S
practical good was recognized Now
it has become an integral part of the
public school system in nearly every
state. The training of Kindergarten
teachers is part of the work of most
normal schools, so that the dlhcul-
ties caused by incompetent and I'M
trained teachers has been practically
overcome. Nearly 100000 children
are enrolled IN the public kinder
gartens of the country, an increase
OF 100000 or % per cent over the
last report, compiled two years ago
In addition to these are over 1900
other kindergartens supported by
churches, clubs and various philan-
thropic organization. having an en-
rollment approximating $4,000 Over
! 10000 kindergarten teachers are IN
active service. besides large num-
Der of women, many of them mothers
! who have taken kindergartens IN or
| der. to be better fitted to meet child
! problems.
A number OF the kindergarten
training schools are considering COM
bining the Nontessori materials with
the Froebelian materials in order to
give the broadest possible training
Several of the best known normal
schools have already inaugurated
this work. Los Angeles was the first
city to establish a Montessori class
in connection with a public school.
but New York and Boston have now
, followed the example In most OF the
large cities a free Montessori class
/ is now supported through the ef-
forts of the Montessori Education
Association. already a large national
Z
prominent IN educational and scien-
, fific circles Aside from their phi
ilanthroupic purpose OF giving the
benefit of Montessori education TO
children whose parents could not
afford 10 pay for il. these schools
serve as public demonstrations of the
| value of the system.
1t is DR.. Montessori's purpose to
carry her system of education by
means OF the spontaneous concentra-
! ton of the child throughout the en-
f; tire public school curriculum she
! has materials for this complete
course now well outlined. and 1t is
: expected that the work or the elemen-
| tary grades may be started next year.
They will be demonstrated during
the sessions of the international
/ Training School which has been re-
Gently opened in Los Angeles
= .-,;n - corn