Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-03-03
THE VALUE OF GAMES 7,'~7es.

The VALUE OF GAMES -
Games are of great educational
value when played under the proper
conditions, that is, when they are prop
erly supervised and controlled. We
all know of children who appear slow
and dull, who move about slowly, who
think slowly, and who even notice but
little of what is going on around them
Games will help such child materially.
1t will not be long before he realizes
that he is not a desirable partner
unless be is able to act when his turn
comes, and also to help his side to win.
He must move away quickly to avoid
being tagged; he must see the ball
when it is coming in his direction and
be ready to catch it !; he must listen in,
order to hear his name called in fact
he must be ready to see, to hear, to
feel, and to respond quickly to what is
going on around him. The child tries
to do his best, and if he falls or drops
the ball, and these things take points
from his team. he tries very hard to-
avoid them. His movements become
less awkward, and by degrees he gains,
control of his muscular movements.
Then. there is the child who is odd, or.
timid, or unsocial, the one who does.
not make friends readily or work with,
others easily. Children of this kind
are likely to be unappreciated, Or
even disliked. In the game the odd
child discovers that it is necessary for
him to do as the others do, or they do
not care to play with him. The timid
child comes to realize that what he
does counts just as much as what any
other child does, and that others meet
defeat as we'll as he. In this way con-
fidence is gained. The unappreciated
child is given a chance to show his
skill and thereby gains the respect of
the others The bold, selfish individual
finds out that he is no more important
than any one of the group. Each
comes to realize that he must do what
is expected of him, must cooperate
with the rest in order to gain glory
for the side. and not merely for him
self. This working together gives the
child practice in social service, and is
a good training for his later life
Games also help in the training Of the
will power. The slow or timid child
learns the value of taking risk now
and then, and this gives courage. It
| also affords an opportunity for the
| individuals originality to assert itself.
| Another aspect Of the development of
the will power which games help is.
that of self control, or the power of
restraint. The child comes to know
that he cannot always do just as he
wishes, but instead must take into
consideration the desires Of others he
must have the good Of the whole at,
heart, or the group will not tolerate
HIM He must observe the ~. es Of the
game, be ready for the signal. aim for
some particular place with the ball
These rules must be observed, even
when he most wishes to be unhampered
by them, as in a moment Of great
emotional excitement. 1t is necessary
for him to learn to choose between
the fair and the unfair means of secur-
ing a victory, to distinguish between
right and wrong and to be able to do
what he considers right at any and
all times. 1t is this trained power and
the habit of doing right which makes
character The lack of this power
makes business men win at any cost,
and makes wrecks of the lives of able
men.
Anyone. who has sat in classroom
for whole day cannot fail to notice
, that great nervous strain is produced
/ by the school work By degrees the
! pupils become mentally and physically
: fatigued. AS the time goes on they
} grow restless, liStleSs, assume un.
00dllIllul SllllUS pOSIuF0S. anu Try &c
Communicate as an outlet for their social
instincts. Plainly the pupil needs g
? change. Formal gymnasium work will
help the posture and the playing OF
/ games will help to relieve the Other
: conditions. The game gives a chance
! for the expression of the normal socia
? instincts. One cannot help but notice
} the difference in attitude of those
J pupils who have enjoyed recess anc
those who have had none. The former
: are bright and ready to work again
: the listleSsness is gone.
t We might conclude that the use o1
: games helps to conserve the physical,
} mental. animal vitality of the pupils