Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-05-19

looks like play to the onlooker, has
been given deep study and thought
by the kindergartner. and she
knows that each game played and
each song they sing and each story
they hear is designed to develop q
worthy trait of character.
10 illustrate the power Of the
story: Some years ago this incl
dent occurred in . kindergarten in
shreveport. One Of the children
during the course Of the morning,
took toy that belonged to another
child. He hid it, intending to take
it home. The owner Of the toy was
distressed over its loss and COM
planned to the teacher. She did
not start an investigation and ex-
pose the child who took the toy, but
allowed the children to 60 on with
their morning program. apparently
ignoring the incident. However,
when the story hour arrived, she
told q story bearing on this subject
and bringing out the thought Of
honesty. Before the child went
home, he brought the toy to the
teacher, told her he had taken it,
but that he was sorry. Training
like this will save many future
criminals. In "Lovs and Law in
Child Training" tho statement Il
made that in California (whsre this
kindergarten law was passed, ten
years ago), there il no record in the
juvenile courts Of . child ever hav-
ing been arrested who had been to
kindergarten. Does not this alone
make it worth while, not only for
the cities, but for the rural districts
rs well?
The argument ID sometimes made
that children who have not been to
6ndergafteh make just as good
progress through the grades - the
children who have had their training.
It is not the object Of the kindergart-
en- training to make . child do two
years work in one - be goes
through the grades, but rather to
lay . foundation for character that
will make him . better citizen-to
form right habits Of thought and &C
tion-consideration Of the rights Of
others, mutual hslpfulness, kind
ness, punctuality, neatness, order,
etc. "Since early childhood ID plas-
tic, formative since impressions for
good or evil at this stage influence
N large measure the selections,
the standards Of value. and the ap-
precautions Of later life, the kinder
garten with its powerful system Of
nature 10 worth while for every
child"
Formation ID better than de-
formation. Prevention ID better than
cure"
Now as to the expense Of this.
When the farmer gives extra care
and time to the preparation Of the
seilD he knows it viii cost more than
It would to plant the seed without
proper preparation Of the soil, but
he also knows that it viii pay.
Also, it is q matter Of opinion with
the farmer, and the better the
farmer, the more careful the prep
no one compels him to
10 this. He does It from choice,
md he pays for it himself. And 70
t will be with the people Of Louis
ana if this kindergarten bill passes.
The community that appreciates the
potentialities Of childhood and the
necessity for training the plastic
mind Of the little child, may have
kindergarten, and that community
pays for it. It is simply . matter Of
ocal option, and the kinderyartens
:annot be established until the peo-
,le have expressed themselves ct the
POLLS as willing to pay the necessary
in California cannot be
,ver fifteen cents on the hundred
dollars, and in Louisiana may he
ess.
Won't you give this matter your
earnest consideration and vote for
he measure? ut ID wiser and less
to save children than to
punish criminals"
Yours very truly,
SHREVEPORT KINDERGARTEN
ASSOCIATION.
Mrs. s. p. Weaver, President. |