The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1919-01-16
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
Articles Issued by fIe Department
of The Interior, Bureau OF Education
and flte
National Observation-Disclosures
AMERICAN MOTHERS
BY DR.. JENNY 3. MERRILL.

The phenomenal success of Ameri-
can boys at the front after an unusu-
ally short military trimming was not
only great cause of thankfulness, but
Indicated that American mothers
methods of discipline had not been so
lndulgent nor lax in the past as some
good critics have feared. There has
been blessing in disguise in the free
action and self-assertion that are al
lowed American children.
Fifty years ago little book emitted
"Children's Rights" appeared in this
country. Perhaps 1t went too far. but
children have suffered long from too
great severity. Herbert Spencer in
England wrote of children's rights as
well as of women'S. The words of pro-
gressive thinkers on both subjects were
needed. Later from Sweden, Ellen
Key sent out "The Century of the
Child" Later yet came from Italy
Doctor Montessori's cutlery against
suppression of the child by arbitrary
discipline. and her advocacy of dlsci-
pline biased on liberty"
Probably all of these leaders directly
or indirectly gained much of their in
spiration and guidance from Froebel,
who dared to write even in Germany.
"Follow the Child"
Never Flourished in Germany.
FrOebel, the founder OF the kinder
garten, was German but not Prussian.
Prussia soon recognized that "democ-
racy" would be the outcome of his
method and promptly suppressed it.
Many do not know that the kindergar-
ten never has fiourished i'm Germany.
Froebel was i'm sense a martyr and
died disappointed with his own ma
tons rejection of the kindergarten.
but with his "eye of faith" he turned
hopefully towards America in which
country. he prophesied. his ideas
would flourish, under democratic pro-
lection and guidance.
Mothers of America. many of them,
as we'll as teachers, have studied kin
dergarten principles for 80 years and
have again and again testified to their
value.
"What are these principles" Read
| Miss Emile PoulssOns Love and Law
in Child Training" This may be found
| i'm almost any library or can be
bought from the publishers, Milton
Bradley Co. Springfield, Mass, for
| 81. It's very title suggests the kinder.
| garten's principles-love and law, but
not license.
kindergarten discipline is loving
| steady and strong. not sentimentally
weak. kindergarten discipline prefers
positive -ather than negative methods
! The life of the child is not fitted with
| "don'ts." for there are so many good
things found to do, there is little time
| for mischief.
For Mother and Child Alike.
Childish mistakes and mishaps are
met with patience. Mother gives the
little one time to recover himself. Self
control is her aim. Request is pre-
ferred TO force. Politeness is the rule
! for mother and child alike. Both use
| frequently "the two little golden keys
Il thank you and If you please
"a soft answer turneth away wrath.
"Grievous words are avoided because
centuries ago ii was discovered that
they "stir up anger" There are ne
loud. shrill tones, but rather quiet, de
cided emphasis. If need be.
"vain repetitions" having proved