Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-05-05
enly Father, has made all of these
things for US.

If it comes to be natural thing TO
the child thus to associate and rever
ence the best things in his experience
this means much for his later religious
life. There is usually song known s.
the Thank you song" that the child
rem sing-a simple expression of graft
tude for certain good gifts.
Unconscious learning is the best.
The things we've always known
learned-we know not where or how
stay by us-are part of US. This II
characteristic of the knowledge the
child acquires in kindergarten. II
comes to him unconsciously through
his play. Let me give few illustra'
tions which will show that the kinder
garten provides the child with daily op'
portunities for the exercise of certain
powers and the requirement of certain
definite ideas.
Often a child will ask that a special
song be sung, and the teacher may
suggest that he first tell to the others
the words Of the song and in natural
child.like way, without any self-con.
sciousness, he will repeat the one OF
two verses often without mistake.
No one is urged to do this-it is q
ready response to suggestion-is in
no way regarded as showing off, but
rather as contribution to the pleasure
of the whole group.
In the same unconscious way they
learn something of numbers. The
counting of children present finds a
place in each days program. One
child goes the rounds as all stand in a
circle and gently touches each one,
while they all count in concert. In
many of the games certain number
of children must be selected and the
older ones are quick to notice If mis-
take is made and can tell how many
must be dropped or added to make the
desired number.
If the telling of a story is part of
the morning exercises, there will be
great interest and concentration of the
older children, and later on in the day,
you will probably see them giving
back, in some form or other, ideas they
have gotten from the recital. Every
day the children give expression to i'm
rressions by modelling with clay, in
Asawing, in building with the blocks. in
= be cutting, 'or constructing some
thing.
The plan in the kindergarten is
always to choose subjects Of real inter-
est to the children and then provide
various means for the expression of
this interest.
There is something particularly
broadening to the kindergarten student
in her preparatory work. The con-
slant contact with little children calls
out the best that is in her, and she has
daily opportunity to work out educa-
tional problems and to put in practice
her educational theories. She comes to
realize that it is not enough that
teacher be we'll informed as to the sub
jects she is to teach, that it is even
more important that she understand
her pupils; understandl how to make
subjects and tasks appeal to them;
know how to call forth their best effort,
and how to enter sympathetically into
their interests.
The first kindergarten in America
was opened in 1868, and since that
time the Institution has been variously
regarded by some as fad; by some
as charity; and by Others, and the
number of these is constantly increas-
ing-as great educational factor. In
proof of this we have the constantly
number of private and pub
lie school kindergartens, and the testi-
mony of school superintendent in its
favor.
A state university president, leading
some visitors into the kindergarten
room, said. II have saved the best till
the last. for the educational principles
Of this department underlie the work
Of the whole college"