The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-15
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
Articles Issued by the Department
of the Interior. Bureau of Education
and the
N0tiOn0Ik t1dergarfe
STORY TELLING
BY CAROLYN sHERwlN BAILEY

oiC uiiNc loI Illli, Ht putS It's iHSiuCuto
into action in his daily work and play
and he remembers the story's teach
ings long after the story teller has for
gotten it. There is a new hunger that
we ought to satisfy in childhood. this
story hunger. Especially do we need
to utilize the child's Imagination just
now as means of developing those
civic virtues and the love of country
that will make the children Of today
good American citizens of tomorrow.
Child patriotism is begun in service
and especially in home service, for the
home is the republic of childhood. If
the mother and kindergarten connect
home service and simple community
service with love for and reverence
for the flag, the first impressions of
patriotism will be inculcated in chill
dren.
The story of 1.-THE Flag-bearer" has
this starting point in patriotic teach
Ing for its lesson.
The primary class had a very beau
tiful American flag and some child was
going to carry it from the schoOlroOm
across the park and into the town hall
on the holiday. All the primary chill
dren would march after the flag ard
they were going to sing America" and
'Ihe StarSpangled Banner" 1t would
be 4 wonderful day and each child
wanted to carry the flag.
No one was sure who would be
chosen as g-bearer, but their teacher
had said the week before 'It will be
the child who loves his country the
most who will carry the Stars and
Stripes. Try and do something for
your country during the week"
Marjory had been knitting for the
soldiers. Her grandmother had given
her pair of pretty yellow needles
and ball of soft gray yarn and had
started scarf. But the stitches would
drop and there was still enough snow
for sliding on the hill back of Mar
jory's house. Her knitting was not
much farther along on Saturday than
on Monday.
Il will show how much l love my
country" Hubert said, and he asked
his mother to sew the gilt buttons from
his great-grandfather' soldier coat
that hung in the attic on his REFER
Then he showed the bright buttons to
all the other children and they thought
that Hubert looked very fine indeed.
Children Were Specializing.
II shall wear them when I carry the
flag next week." Hubert told them.
But the children thought that, per-
haps, Roger would be chosen as flag
bearer because he bought such large
flag with the money in his bank and
put it up on the flagpole in his front
yard. Rogers father helped him raise
the flag on rope so that he could pull
1t down at night, but once the Stars
and Stripes were flying Roger forgot
all about them. His flag stayed out in
the wind and sleet and its bright colOrs
faded and the stripes were torn.
After all, the children decided, it
would be Edward who would carry the
flag. Edward had dog named Trusty
and he decided to train him to be a
Red Cross dog. He put a white band
with a red cross on it around Trusty
and harnessed him to a little express
wagon to carry bundles. Trusty had
never worn a harness in his life, or
been fastened to anything. He tried
to get away from the wagon, but Ed
ward strapped the harness more tight
ly. The straps hurt Trusty and it
hurt his feelings to be made to drag
the cart, but Edward drove him to and
from the drug store and the grocery
and the butchers, carrying the parcels
that Edward had always brought alone
before.
Then it was the holiday, and every
one was greatly excited over what was
going to happen. Whoever had red
ribbon, or a blue necktie, or red.
white and blue badge felt very proud
indeed to wear it. Every child sat as
still as q mouse as the teacher spoke
to them.
"Marjory showed me five rows that
she had knitted for q soldier when
went to her house few days ago." she
said. II wonder how many rows she
has finished now?"
"Only five," Marjory said softly.
Hubert touched the buttons on his
reefey and sat up very straight in his
place.
II am wearing my great-grand
fathers soldier buttons" he said.
THAT ought to make you feel as
brave as he was, when he earned the
right to wear them in battle" the
teacher said, and Hubert suddenly
thought that gilt buttons had not made
him into a soldier at all. The other
children began to think, too, as they
looked up at the Stars and Stripes
waiting Mt the end of the room. Ed
ward remembered how the harness had
hurt Trusty and the boy with the drum
how he had awakened the
baby from her nap. Roger thought of
his torn flag. Tapping in the wind on
the top Of the flagpole. No one said
until the teacher looked at
the end Of the class and smiled. and
said:
HyNolI rotorD