Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-27
Or. MATiLDE CASTRO
On ChIld.Education Methods

EDUCATING a child to make itself a
~ potent factor in a democracy is one OF
the most serious problems that the pro-
gressive school has to solve, in the opinion
of DR.. Matilde Castro. professor Of educa-
tion and head of the department Of educa-
ton of Bryn Mawr College and director, of
the Phebe Anna Thorne Model School for
Girls, which is under the direction Of the
college.
"A democracy the form of government
under which we lve," said DIR. Castro, lis
one of the most difficult in its requirements
of any form of government under which
citizen can function. The problem Of the
school. particularly the private school. Is to
train the child to think and act in the way in
which she will be required In adult life.
''As the woman is just as seriously a
citizen a man in these days, and must
take her place in the world of affairs as well
as in the home, she must be trained with
the citizenship iden prominently to the fore.
THE prime requirement of citizen Is to
think in order to act intelligently and ef-
fectvely. This can only be accomplished by
giving her an education instead OF a tram
Experience Best Teacher
I'm educating a child so that she may
learn to think in this way she can only be
expected to respond properly by thinking in
terms of her own experience. 1t is neces-
sary that a progressive school furnish its
pupils with the experiences upon which they
may base their thinking. and to watch their
mental processes carefully that this ability
NAV develop. For that reason a child should
never be told what to do, but always encour-
aged to do 1t herself.
'"Thus, when a school teaches such things
as handwork, eurhythmic dancing, music, art
and dramatic expression, it Is not with an
idea of adding to u chid's talents. but Of
giving her richer field of experience in
which to work and something to think about.
The esthetic subjects, in addition to the
practical, also have the value OF increasing
the child's sense Of appreciation, sympathy
and understanding.
but after all they develop Of intellectual
and moral force. resistance ability to make
decisions, to establish standards and yet to
maintain an open minded reasoning atti-
| tude toward life are the important objectives
| of the progressive school.
Clean Thinking Necessary
| "Clean cut, decisive thinking is the de-
sired quality to develop In the child as 1t
grows toward adult life. 1t is important in
accomplishing this end that no opportunity
| be lost in watching mental processes and in
.'in a natural and easy way, the child
should not recite lessons, but express to
| her schoolmates what she thinks and feels
about the particular subject under discus
sion. In my experience the child always
| faces her class and talks to them, not the
teacher. Criticisms, IL necessary, are then
made by her classmates. In this way the
child not only learns to think but to get or
her feet and express herself to others. eI
actly as she will be called upon to do In
"The same process holds good In the mat
i ter of discipline. The normal child. with q
little guidance, is fully capable OF self
discipline or Of judging her fellow classmat,
fairly and effectively.
'afhc child taught to work things out fol
herself becomes blessed with an absence o
existence for many persons.
"Good health and happy disposition ar