The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-03-28
PARENTS HELP
IS GREAT NEED
Some Are Prejudiced Against
KindergartenS,
NEW IDEAS ADOPTED HERE
More Than 1000 Children
Enrolled in City,
By Aletha Barr Taft.

With the kindergarten so iirmly IN.
trcnChed IN educational life, IT IS strange
that so little is really known about II
even BY many ui those who contribute
the live material which makes It, That
is. they only know there Is kinder
gartcn room IN every school which IN
some instance supplies the place OF 4
day nursery, without thinking or know
ing the "chlci end " same
To talk a few moments with Miss
Sue Thompson the kindergarten super
visor, IS TO gain a different and true
perspective of the work, and make, one
realize anew the benefit " being a
child OF the present rather than Of the
past
New ideas arc bcrug introduced into
this work right along In fact the ad-
Nancements OF this particular depart
ment are occupying an important niche
IN the progressive school thought
The criticisms Of tho past arc being
considered and worked out Principal
among those was the feeling that kin
dergartcn work was too fine, causing an
'NN anu IVI NbUN Nlldlll WINCH Ndh lltI
recognized IN the little child
This fine work. that Is. the maulpula
ton and work with fluc tcNturcd mate
rialN. has been ,upplautcd by coar,cr
supplies, such as large floor blocks. and
construction workings. The use OF these
larger thing, give, also A beneficial OPP
portnnlty ior the child to stand, sit,
bend over hit, carry and 50 forth
There ha, been put into all the kinder
gartcnN, too, what is called free play
period, where the child has a chance for
a few minutes each day TO be and 10
express absolutely hi, own personality
However. Miss Thompson emphasizes
the iaet Ihat the freedom OF TIN, time
does not mean license
The old thought that the work oi the
kindergarten children had To be done
almost entirely a, table, is gone Table,
being conducive TO Scdcntary habits.
makes the getting away from them IN
this free play period more valuable
than ever Oi course the sand box and
rhythmlcal work ha, always gwen some
freedom. but not as docs this period for
which special time has been made.
The feeling that a child by having his
work cut and dried Tor him Is apt to
lose hi, initiative, i, completely over
come here where he is simply super
vised enough to help him
Then, too. more encouragement is be
ing given--evcn 80 early To the talking
and telling inS,inc, which is inherent
in every wee tot from the time he can
say two words
There Is a most enjoyable for both
teacher and child conversational time.
where the Youngsters SIT on a large rug
on the floor and spin yarns" ono nigh,
say. Miss Thompson says that the re
suits OF this work are amazing IN the
way the klddies. Young as they arc, soon
learn to recognize mistakes III their Gle.
men,ary speech. and the suggestions
they make This listening and telling
mood here with the and S-ycat-oldS
tends to the same greater poiSc, under
standing and more case oi expression
as II does m the way up grades
In the kindergarten program is found
these free play and storytelling periods,
songs. constructive work such as card
board and box work. clay modelling pa
per cutting. crayola drawing, game,
and rhythm drill
Some persons may feel tina, the child
gets too much play in fac; nothing but
play. not realizing that learning comes
so much more easily through play than
any other way II is the same as with
gruwnup' Compel the average bust
ness man to get ont aud walk a. lar lS
he does playing eighteen hole, OF golf
and swing his arms just aS much aud
see what he sayS-and does Ask the
average gIrl TO cover aS many miles
walking as she does at her darccS and
see what she SayS-and does II is all
in the atmosphere So the child IN ,hc
kindergarten learns the use oi hands
iee,--both Of ,hem-body and mind
along with the development oi his
senses and thinks i, play
On this theory. says Miss Thompson
Dr. Judd OF Chicago university tcccn'
ly IN Kansas City. argued strongly
against the introduction oi reading into
kindergarten work, saving tha, the pc
riod OF play in school should he length
ened rather than shortened.
In the Oklahoma City kindergarten,
they are starting even musical work
more serious than song singing with