The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02
PROF, CLAYTON ENDORSES
Says They Give Parents Great
er Interest in School Work
Than They Would Other
wise Haye-Furnish Clear
er Insight Into the Meaning
Of Education

Mr. Donald MacRae, Of Whining |
>op, is one of those interested in the |
effort TO set the Legislature to pass
The Stacy bill providing for the es-
Adjustment, equipment and mainten-
suce of kindergartenS in school dis
trictS where the patrons desire them
lie has received from United States
Commissioner of Education F. p
ClaxtoD the following letter approving
he effort to promote kindergarten
work in North Carolina:
4 am very much Interested in your
effort - induce the Legislature of
North Carolina to enact some law
which will assist in the promotion Of
he kindergarten work in the cities,
towns, and manufacturing communi-
jes Of North Carolina. | have given
many years 70 the study of the kim
tergartcn and am convinced that it
Is very valuable for all children, espe-
cially Tor children of cities, towns,
and manufacturing communities
whose mothers can not give them the
attention which mothers Of the coun-
iry give to their children, and who
IRE excluded from direct contact with
nature, which country children have.
The work Of the kindergarten is
based on sound pedagogical princi-
ples. Froobel understood clearly what
al the greatest educators have un-
derstood, that education is the result
ant OF two sets of forces, the forces
from within which may be called ma
ture, heredity, tendency, and the forces
II environment from without, ana that
good education requires the largest
possible amount of freedom for the
development and manifestation Of the
amer forces, and such adjustment
OF the environment of the child as
Will make possible the fullest and
freest activity and development Of it's
nature.
81 have thought that the kindergar-
Ten Is especially helpful IN the South
ern States for the following among
other reasons:
The school life of children il,
The southern States is much shorter
than elsewhere. Anything that will
add 10 the length of the school life in
helpful way must therefore be &C.
counted good.
:. The kindergarten in the schoo
heIpS 10 give parents a greater inter.
est In the scnool work than they
would otherwise have. Mothers who
send thier young children to the kin
dergarten follow them with a tender
sr solicitude than they have been &C
cuStomed to give the older childrel
IN the grades of the school 1t i
easy TO transfer this solcitude and in
terest 10 the children after they hav
entered the grades
3. The kindergarten gives t
te2chers, parents and school officer
truer insight into the real natur
tod meaning of education and juste
appreciation OF its worth than the
otherwise would have. This is espe
rially true OF teachers if the superin
fendaut arranpaC for kind ri GDoT
ana grade teachers to come togethe
IN teachers meetings for the study {
tne principles OF education. / had
most striking Illustration of this whe
was superintendent Of schools OF tn
'ty of Asheville. North Carolina.
!. The work Of the kindergarte
"nen properly done always brings jC
ana sunshine ino the lives OF childre
lean Paul Richter was right when
Nald that this is the most importal
.hlng that can ever happen to a chill
.. Much OF the best in the educ;
,lon 81 children comes from imitatio
h'ndersarten teachers are usually W.
men Of fine culture, well modulat:
Folces and good manners. Many chi
'ren learn from them what they ha'
no opportunity of learning from the
parents in the home.
IS. The kindergarten material.
planned by Fopebel. the founder
me kindergarten. is so arranged as
assist children in learning the FUND
mental principles OF form, color al
motion. The use OF this material
me kindergarten therefore makes t
pest possible foundation for the stu
of mathematics and science in t
grades.
y. The kindergarten is especia
helpful for negro children. who ha
ess opportunity for education in t
nome and in the ordinary schon
ana who are by nature more imitati
than white children are. I feel ST
mat any com mi1nif1r In SoIf ae