The Washington times., 1924-02-06
METHODS
IN TEACH|NG
SUCCESS
Modern School at IsteIton, NJ.
j., Has Happy cIasses Built
Around Shops.
BY HELEN FOX.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

Cosmopolitan GGWO 6egVuces Il
SHELTON, N. j., Feb. 5.--MaIy
Jones, aged six, is learning to read
and write at the modern school at |
this progressive village today by
setting type.
She has no. textbooks.
Helen Smith. aged eight, is having |
her drawing lessons, not out OF |
book OF formulas, supervised BY a
teacher. but by making .wood-cuteI
OF her own imaginative sketches,
some Of which are far removed |
from the usual rules of perspective.
She's to find these out herself.
Johnny Roberts and "Freckles"
Corner, 90 interested In building q
canoe, or running the schools prit.
ing press they have to be told to
play" are other members of this
unusual school OF 1875 pupils.
It Is a school without textbooks,
| the usual form of classes . and
| other regulations, which usually
are considered necessary parts OF a
school today.
The whole school is formed about
| the nucleus Of printshop, WORK.
shop, art room and assembly room,
| the latter being used chiefly for
self-interpretative dancing and sing
| ing.
Teachers don't teach; they simply
stimulate interest ana answer ques'
| tions.
Learn From Newspaper.
The children learn to read and
write by printing q school paper.
According to Paul Scott, PRINT
shop teacher at Stelton, the school
aims to develop the children that
come to 1t, into individuals with
| personality, resourcefulness and self
sufficiency, rather than encyclo-
pedias of miscellaneous information.
sour work here and tho work as
/ It will be carried on in Peekskill.
! where a new modern school is being
organized, is based upon the idea
/ that the development of an indt-
vidual 10 from within out" Mr.. Scott
said. 1T is our purpose to bring
out what is within the child, rather
than to force a great deal Of ram
| dom information into his head at a
/ time when he is not ready for 1t,
and which he Is sure to forget.
Our children learn things-many
things-without knowing that they
/ are learning, because they are in
terested in whatever they do.
I'VE have no formal classes Of
any kind. We have had from time
/ to time q few academic courses given
| wherever and whenever the children
have found a need for them, but
always given Informally. Our chill
dren never sit with their hands be-
hind their backs nor do they ever
raise their hands for permission to
! speak. They speak whenever they
choose, and they never abuse the
privilege. This Is true, because in
teaching them they are free indi-
viduals we attempt to show them
that their own freedom depends
upon their not treading upon the
freedo m foothers. They are taught
voluntary restraint and self-cOntrol.
The writer witnessed class be-
ing taught German, and found much
to bear out Mr.. Scott's statement.
The class was visited at a moment
unexpected The children, after
only a fleeing glance, and, unlike
little public school children. were
completely Indifferent to the visi-
tor and totally unselfconscious, and
continued the work without a break.
A group of boys and girls between
the ages OF eight and thirteen were
grouped Informally about q desk,
before which stood the teacher AT
a blackboard. On the face of every
child was an expression of interest
and animation.
| No Punishment There.
There was all the whispering that
is prohibited In the ordinary school
room. There was complete freedom,
| S,,,% ,,0% 1ooSIlos,1 N v,n1 ovI,k ~ ovaaafnA
When a child wished to speak, she
simply said. "Anna. 1 have some,
thing to say" Whereupon Anna
said, "Yes?" and the child either
expressed an opinion or asked q
question. Anna" IL the name by
which the children call Miss Anna
Koch, the teacer Of German. In the
use Of the first name, there Is no
disrespect. On the contrary, 1t is
a mark Of affection, understanding
and friendship. 1.-THE children have
no fear Of her or any other OF
their teachers" Mr.. Scott said
They are not punished for failure
to attend class, to their minds
brings it's own punishment. They
wish to learn German and have q
class organized. When they do not
aIrenQ Lncy rcauZS tn0y HIo III
learning German.
"It is literally true. that the only
thing the children have to be askeS
to do is to play. Perhaps this is *
because their work IL really play
to them, and they do not feel the
need Of recreation afforded BY
games. However, We feel that i
they do not need the recreation the,
do need the exercise, and frequsntl.
! must shoe them out of the prin
shop into the OPEN"
( The main activity OF the schoo
}. is centered about the print shop
4 1t il there that the children lear
a spelling. grammar. engraving. typ,
;. setting-everything to do with get
!. ting out q publication. The publica
a ton issued by the children calle'
"Voice Of the Children" is LITERAL:
G their own publication. They no
e only write every line of 1t ant
draw every sketch, but they also sc
every line of type and engrav
every "cut." They also do their owl
proof reading and turn their owl
press.
q