New-York tribune., 1915-03-17
CHILDREN DEVELOP
THEIR own IDEAS
Learn How to Make and
Work with Toys at
"Play School,"
By HENRIETTA RODNAN.


gestion, but the children work out
their own ideas nearly all OF the time.
The marvel of Miss Pratts toys Is tnat
they're not just cunning and pretty,
and whit they are, like most toys.
They can all be taken apart ana put
together again in any number OF lasci-
mating Ways.
When / went to tie school yesterday
Miss Pratt and the children we're out.
II guess they're down at the docks.
said the houseHeePer. Maybe you
like to wait"
entered "A room. and there ! saw a
wooden river flowing between banks Of
blocks. A substantial bridge crossed
it, and tugs and torpedo boats rested
OF 1t sercneiy.
in one corner was all unmistakable
church. and IN another municipal
building OF excellent proportions.
A domestic scene in the next room
was peoplcd with delightfully."- iointed
dolls, which sat Oh chairs that htted
them.
A we'll remembered tragedy OF my
own youth was that ny dolls and my
toy furniture we're never on the same
scale. spoke of this TO Miss Pratt
when she came in with the children.
Those chairs were built by this boy
C six" she said. "He asked re how
big he should make them, and | said
| didn't know, so he got doll and
measured"
I've been wondering since why il
has apparently never occurred 10 any
body to measure a human being be-
fore making the chairs we are forced
to sit on.
We've been visiting the Subway
said Miss Pratt, land talking about
, tran sportatjon."
I'VE" with the exception o. Miss
Pratt, are between four and seven
wears of age. may have looked IN
credulous.
THE children understand Miss
Pratt said casually. They've seen
boats and wagons, horse cars, trolley
and trains, and they've played with
them.
."You see. we study the neighborhood.
We've visited docks. and markets. and
factories. We've talked about them
and read about them, and the children
are building little cities Of their own.
They build on day afCer day. We
don't disturb their work till they've
nished il and have no further interest
in it,
We encourage the little ones TO
work alone. tc become independent.
After a child can work on. his owh
idea We arc glad 20 have him combine
hi- work with that O. others.
"YOu see. ore boz built the church
ana another this house; tner ;ney
linked he two by this block roed
What else do the children get here
besides understanding OF the communl-
ty life and practice IN converting their
ideas into realities 80 ! asked.
As a matter Of fact, didn't care
whether they got anything else or not,
! was 20 happy 10 find place whore
they got knowledge Of life ard oppor-
tunity for creative activity. the thing,
they're not getting IN the public
schools
But I supposed somebody would want
10 know whether they were learning
10 read and write and 10 number work.
so asked.
"Oh. yes h." said Miss Pratt, almost as
norchalautly as felt. We did not plr-
sde the subject isr.
THE children dance and sing and
play out of doors" Miss pratt showed
tho sdndpile ard garden boxes.
"Thesc are the books the children
like TO have read 10 them" She showed
me not fairy tales or "Dotty Dimples,'
but stories of animals and insects, o.
foreign lands and peoples.
We believe tina; children educated
n this way viii be ready for high
school at twelve" said Miss Pratt. And
so 30 |: reader. in fact. than you o.
! have ever been, better equipped with
knowledge Of the life ABOUT them and
with habits Of effective action.
T. / we've the Board o; Education {
should say: Ny dear Miss Prstt, here
is school building; here arc children
and here are young women TO work
with you. II YOU need anything else in
order 20 do your beautiful work and to
teach others TO do it, please let u
know"
But. you see. I'm not the Board Of
Education. and the present incumbents,
believe, are not giving even Nh
Writ what he needs for his work.
What do you think of Mr. Wirts
work ," / asked Miss Lillian u. Walc.
II know too little about it to BE-
able to discuss 1t ntelligentiy.' SAID
Miss Nald "Of course. | am very
much Interested in what ! have heard
The economy which Nr. Writ prom
i.ci interests ne far less, however.
thar The variety of activities m the
Gary schools and the remarkable way
.r which Mr.. Writ adapts the curr.cu-
lum 10 the needs Of the individual
child
In case you haven't guessed i, this
i, Writ Week in this column. and, IN
cidentally, in the city at large.
II Mr.. Writ leaves New York with
out having established his superb sys-
tenn OF public education here. because
he hasn't had sufficient backing, you
cant say that | didn't tell you that
YOU had the chance of your lifetime
and your children's while he was here.
4 local school board in Brooklyn
b. having some pain IN getting a uew
idea.
The changes IA Public School 81,
th,v ~a-. have provided for all the
children. and they don't know wha,
ilr Writ completed work will ne.
because he hasn't been given the
equipment he asked, but the changes
he has made have so distracted"
them honestly. they said the changes
distracted them that they beg 70
have the old way back again.