Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-02-20
Lest We Forget

The following communication from
Mrs. j. e. Frankel, a kindergarten
teacher of much experience, takes up
an educational feature to be con-
sidered in connection with the new
high school that parentsOf very young
children are as much interested in as
those who will seq their sons and
daughters receive diplomas within
the next ten years. In all that has
previously been said on the subject
we do not recall that this phase has
been consic ered, and the suggestion is
timely for that reason. In planning
for new building some provision
should certainly be made for properly
taking care of the extremely young
children that Eagle River may reason
ably expect to possess as a growing
community.
In this connection we desire to say
that the Review will be glad to give
space to anyone who has ideas to pre-
sent that will be of value in the very
important matter OF planning a high
school building wherein every year
furture G tizens win spend nine
months of every twelye.-EDIToR
/ We want new high school OF
course we do. But in our enthusiasm
over our hopes and plans for the older
students let us not forget the little
tots
Mr. Taxpayer, wouldn't you enjoy
seeing a bright, sunny room in the
new building equipped with kinder
garten materials, in charge of kin
dergartner, who is so we'll versed in
the Froebel principles that she draws
the very best from your child thru
directed play? Our State Normals
have excellent kindergarten depart
ments where they teach inspired
young women to PLAY with your
child and thru this play bridge over
the chasm between the home and the
first grade. No matter how master
fully a first grade may be handled by
an expert primary teacher, it cannot
take the place of kindergarten be-
cause the lack of proper materials,
space and time handicap the teacher.
"But, say you, "why have kin
dergarten? What benefit does the
child derive from it?e
In such a brief article one can
merely mention a few of the many
benefits and not go into detail First
of all, the first grade is no place for
child under six years of age and the
kindergarten is the ideal place to
keep him from being on the street.
Secondly, the kindergarten enlarges
ard gives free play to the child's i'm
agination through the gifts, games,
stories, dramatiZations, table work
and various other occupations. Then
too, it develops his love OF Nature
through the growing plants, flowers
and gold fish which are generally one
of the pleasant features of this happy
room, and which each child must help
cultivate, The teacher takes excur-
sions with the children and shows
them the budding trees of spring, the
gorgeous leaves of autumn, the new
chicks that are in Mary's chicken
coop, or the nest Of rabbits that
Charles possesses.
The kindergarten draws out the
shy child and teaches the would-be
leader that others must also have
their chance 1t teaches them to
carry handkerchief, and shame to
the child whose shoes are muddy, or
whose finger nails are dirty. The kin
dergarten impresses upon his growing
mind respect of property and feelings
of others, things which many older
students and grown-ups could well
afford to learn. 1t leads him to
stick to the right, and just as proudly
give in when he is wrong. In other
words it teaches him to become a
worthy citizen and that, indeed. is.
the greatest object of any school.
Let me repeat then, in our enthusi-
asm for the older children's education
let us not overlook bright, sunny,
ideal room where we may indeed have
chiId's garden-the kindergarten.
SOPHIE FRANKEL.