The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1920-04-15
TRAINING LITTLE CITIZENS
m. cL.nrins Order Of Education

The Changing Order Of Education
Many changes are impressive IN
our day. but none more 80 than the
great change that is taking place In
our schools and in our whole atti'
tude toward education II Is hun
bred years since Froebel began 70
labor in the interest Of freer cduca-
ton, but we are only beginning 70
apply his principles.
The interest Of children cannot
be held II they are taught IN a cut
and dried way. From early child
hood they should be led into joyous
activity. At first, only the parents
stand BY 20 help and sympathize.
later teachers, friends and society as.
sist. The early home influence is Of
great Importance. Comenius, Froebel
and Rousseau studied mothers. They
| knew that the mother should be the
first eduactor, they emphasized the
/ importance Of her sympathy and
care. which, though II faltered and
/ halted and fell pitiably short in many
places was necessary for right start.
| Pestolozzi expressed this fact in the
words. Maternal love is the first
agent in education
Ia the ideal school OF today we
find the children choosing their own
material. directing their own stud
les. learning indirectly rather than
dierctly, getting their studies linked
up with life, looking to the teacher
D htr and holm "a
we'll as for actual instruction.
The school should be a sort Of
miniature world in which the child
is prepared for life in the real world
In a kindergarten worthy Of the
name the child moves freely, though
in obedience TO law In old-time
schools Of which there are still far
too many, he is confined by a sort
Of prison-like rigidity.
The hatred Of the average child
for school is a real misfortune. Fol
the child's natural instinct is ts learn
and know, that is why he is always
asking questions, questions that We
in our arrogance and impotence toe
often set aside.
But the school doesn't always an
swer the child's questions, doesnt
always prepare him for life's work
doesn't usually make things interest
ing TO him, although there is much
more vocational training than form
erly. The unknown must be linked
with the known. Arithmetic in IN,
abstract is uninteresting TO any chile
but having FIVE cents TO spend anC
knowing how 10 spend IL, is matter
of practical experience.
The reason why the kindergarten
method Of education is superior d
because il teaches the child through
actual experience. As a parent, ther
you wisely send your child to kind
ergarten But you are not equally
wise when, later on you say, "Oh
Mary's school is all right SCHOOL,
school, anyway"
We have not all the advantage
Of schools where sympathy and mag
ination are used, and we know tina
Z most classes are over-corwded an'
that teacher gets the best result
when she works with small group
and in the right environment. Blu
we all assist in moulding the public
opinion that shapes the schools an'
in paying the taxes that underpa.
teachers for the most important worI
in the world
And until we carry the spirit o.
Froebel right up from the kindergar
ten through the grades and higl
school and college, we cannot expec
TO have the fine Towering Of man
hood and womanhood that is poten
tial in our civilization.