Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-03-26
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!. KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS. i.
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Under the inspiration Of Froebel
and Herbart, end many others, new
psychology and a new pedagogy are
coming to the rescue. More and
more, In the life Of the school, the
needs Of the child with reference to
his individual and social develop
ment, are coming to the front. The
treatments Of subjects Of instruction
ls learning to adjust itself to these
needs; the very textbooks. more
especially In the elementary schools,
reflect the new tendencies, place
stress upon touching interest on the
basis OF tho learners experience,
upon stirring the desire for inde-
pendent research, upon utilizing new
knowledge in fresh individual
achievement or generous socia, an-
deavor. Similarly. disciplinary
measures are judged more and more
by these considerations. Incentives
are adapted to individual nature and
need. Encoura cement Is taking the
place Of relentless pedantic criticism.
Good will, insight and selt-respect
are appealed to, and. in growing
proportion. deliberate self-control
and even organized pupil government
take the place of ostentRtiously vigil
liant government by teachers. Much
is due, In the gradual reorganization
of the elementary school, to the In
flnence Of the kindergarten, Of
manual training and certain phases
OF nature-study. In all Of these the
value of the hand as mans chief Or
gan In exploring his world and in ad-
justing 1t to his needs is fully re-
vealed. With this introduction the
motto, Learn by doing and in order
to do acquired appreciable mean
ing. At last tho whole-hand. head
and heart-of him went to school.
The liberal and practical lost their
antagoniSm, because indeed the two
indispensable poles Of full culture
which carries men, as Goethe has it.
from the useful through the true
to tho beautiful"
The progress of the kindergarten
as Il factor in elementary education
has been quite rapid. The first pub
tic kindergarten was established in
st. Louis in 1878, yielding for this
year q grand total of S,S25 kinder
gartens with an enrolment Of 465,-
86S children. 1t is the general con-
scnsus Of opinion on the part of
superintendents, principals and pri-
mary teachers that the kindergarten
child has advantages over the nom
kindergarten child, other things
equal, in good school and life habits
In wealth Of ideas and power Of ex-
preston, in powers of observation
and concentration. in perseverance
In task once begun, III control Of
the hand in manual work, in social
cooperation and sense of RESPONSE
bllity IN common work, in responsive
ness and obedience and a number Of
other minor points. So beneficial,
indeed, has been the influence Of the
kindergarten upon the spirit and
work of the primary school that de-
liberate movements for the mutual
adjustment, or even coalescence, Of
the two are becoming more and more
urgent. 1t Is proposed, and spora-
ideally carried out, that the transit
tion from one to the other be made
training school student teachers for
the kindergarten and for the primary
work be taught together in all the
essential things; in short, that the
kindergarten be no longer treated as
separate department, but be made
IN integral part Of primary instruc-
ton. A further development
brought to the elementary school by
the kindergarten is found in the
fact that 1t directed favorable atten-
ton to the value and need Of model
ing, drawing and other forms Of con-
structive and creative hand-work in
connection with the educative activi-
ties Of the school.
Thos. A. Smith,
Co. Supt. of Education.