Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
KINDERGARTEN EXPERTS
REPLY TO MISS REPPL|ER
Defend Modern Method Of Educa.
tion Against Her Witty
Attacks.
SCHOOLS FOR AVERAGE MIND
Miss Coleman Denies That i'roebel
System Makes for "Softness OF
Mental l'ibre"-SilOuld Have
Fully Trained Teachers in Charge.

kindergarten experts and advocates
ersinodorn educational methods arose
With ono, accord to the defense OF their
iicals .,l practice. following the witty
and epig diatribe OF Miss Agnes
lIeppier. on Some Varieties of Modern
Education" at the woman's Club last
Week.
e Miss Rcppliers idea seemed to be
tfat the individual should rise above
his circumstances by whatever method
hemight choose; and she cleverly played
uL tic weakness of each method. advo-
eating none. Among other things she
sud was the kindergarten training
mtdo for softncss Of mental fibre and
thtt child was privileged to drop n
TASK as soon AS IL grew irksome.
5he ala admit that the principles OF
Frocbcl, the founder OF the kinder
IaSten. were probably ideai nut she
did not believe them to be closely adj
heed to by teachers to-day.
several mothers. whose children are
hlDssoninG az the bay tree In the va
ritus city kinderHartcns took decided
ls.uo with Miss Repplier. and Miss Lucy
Tor hlndergartncrs. in an interview yes
Coleman. head OF the Training School
to-day gave some interesting data on
the subject.
rEBLIC SCHOOLS INTENDED
For THE AVERAGE MIND
Unusual and brilliant persons, like
MEs Ropplicr and some OF our other
foremost women In the field of liter
fttre, might do without the traditional
edacation. said Miss Coleman, but II
I Tor tho average mind that most of
ytt schools arc arranged
No ono realizes more Thoroughly
tan the wcl1-trained kindergartncI'
'hal there In no royal road TO earnins
ana that character is made In con-
tam ana unremitting strokes OF effort.
n fatl
ing allegiance to high idcalg"
Mss Coleman absolutely disagreed
with Miss Repplier that weakened
mental fibre was the fruit of proper
Kindergarten training. and decla red
mat no one who spent n morning in
\ kindergarten could entertain such
an IDEA. For from the first day she
pointed out, the child Is trained in
courtesy, cooperation. and hclpfulnes,
packed by the public opinion created by
MS fellow playmates He is "A part
OF miniature republic with its obII
gators and rights and where he gets
MS frst vital relation to tho life Of
the community"
RELATION Not 4 "swEET
- AND SENTIMENTAL" CONCEPTJOS
This relation was shown TO be not
sweet and sentimental convention NJ
nte: hut direct and elemental one
where many are m!sicd about ,hi. type
'
through which the young mind is led
10 deeper things. Through the childs
own cnort nc learns to concentrate
quoting William james, the speaker
gave this thought:
4 Effort always has 10 go on, for the
most part not awakening attention
hat ID easy The interest that the
tchchcr can bring TO the subject proves
over and over again TO be only an in
tercst sufficient TO let loose effort
' II Is Miss Coleman's belief that no
specialization should take place i'm
either Kindergarten or primary grades
nhd that the lattcr-day tendency to in
lroducc industrial training In these
early stages is short sighted policy.
defeating it's own end
Tho CruN of the situation Is that
many so-callcd kindcrgartcns are not
Bindcrgartcns at all. but merely irnita
tiona OF It's most superficial phases
lhe thing THAI mothers have 10 fear is
not whether child shall be sent TO
kindergarten. but that il shall have n
Iuily trained teacher, with diploma
emitting her to assume the very great
responsibility OF directing the young
idea. This, according TO this we'll
known authority. puts the RESPONSE
biltty on the parents.
An undergraduate physician would
not DO called to minister to the phv-
steal side Of dear one. Why should
tho mother give less thought TO the
mental and moral development OF her
child: asked Mrs Coleman