Arizona republican., 1922-05-08
FA|RHOPE SCHOOL
To HAVE CLOSING
EXERCISES MAY IS

The children Of the Fairhope school
OF Phoenix at Third street and Nc
Dowell road for the past few weeks
have been preparing for their closing
day activities which will be held Sat-
urday at 10 o'clock in the morning.
The school does not close on this day
but will continue for two weeks more
and the public is invited to attend the
exercises or to- visit the school on
any day.
The Fairhope school of Phoenix is
founded on the now famous plan of
the school OF the same name at Fair
hope, Alabama. Mrs Marietta L.
Johnson, the well-Known educator,
came to Phoenix for a few days a
year and half ago and gave a series
of talks upon modern methods and
her experiences. The idea in educa-
tion' for which Mrs. Johnson and her
school stand is not new. The foun-
dation which the Francis Parker and
the John Dewey schools laid in Chi
cagO twenty odd years ago for the
better education of the child is bear
ing fruit in every section of the coun-
try-these progressive schools are
springing up everywhere and setting
a new pace for educators. Mrs
JohnSons school in Fairhope is per-
haps the most famous of them all.
Since the scientists. philosophers
and educators have studied thorough
ly the development of the child, in
stead of putting their time and
thought so much upon the fashioning
OF the curriculum they have brought
to light many facts of vital impor-
tance to parents and educators who
haves the handling and responsibility
of working and dealing with children.
Facts, which, il more generally un-
derstood and intelligently used, would
go far toward solving the problem of
making better men and women-the
logical end of education.
The newer and we believe the bet
ter methods of education have long
since ceased TO be an experiment
have quite passed the experimental
stages in fact-and the knowledge
gained on many points through years
OF useful experience has become defi-
mite, so that the Fairhope school here
in Phoenix is in no sense an expert
ment.
It is now an acknowledged fact
that the little child does academic
work easily, quickly and safely, if
he has longer preparation for it than
the kindergarten affords, and when
his muscular and nervous system are
more co-ordinated and ready for it.
Regular grade work therefore is not
begun until the child is eight years
of age in the Fairhope school of
Phoenix. BY that time his prepara-
tion for it has been gradual and thor
ough and he begins to learn the use
of books with far less effort and ten
sion than the child of six. His train
ing and experience in the use of con-
crete things has made him generally
more efficient and ready for the three
R's-his creative instinct has had
wider play, so that his all-round de-
velopment is superior TO that of the
child whoNe time has been devoted
to grade work for two years. This
deferring the grade work until eight
years does not, as one might sup
pose. prevent the child from entering
the high school on schedule time;
neither does it prevent him from
taking his natural place IN the pri-
mary and grammar grades. This has
been demonstrated by many children
who have spent only one or two sea-
sons in the F'airhope school,
After all the three RS are studied
directly and indirectly in everything
the children do-first, last and al
ways. They gain a greater indepen-
dence Of though and action by this
approach from a greater number OF
angles, so that if they are obliged
to conform to the regular public
school system, they easily meet the
requirements. One finds that when
the child is thoroughly interested in
what he is doing the problem of or
der solves itself. He works freely
and happily in a prompted quiet.
The Fairhope school of Phoenix is
a private school for both boys and |
o oiric--rf1 a rcriv4or a small f11Iffnn--h2W- |
ing the advantages of more art work, |
manual training begun at six years, |
dramatic work and manual |
arts, together with an unusual gym I
equipment, fine play yard and we'll |
lighted, we'll ventilated room. Only |
normal children are accepted and it !
is open to those who wish to send |
their children to a private school.