Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-21
Public Opinion Counts.

Written by Meta Faris, Assistant Spe-
cialist in kindergarten Education, Bureau
of Education.
Dickey spent many happy days in kinder
earten. not that they were all serene for
being an only child, and not having been
properly trained he had many lessons in
learning to adjust himself to other children
and to the rules of kindergarten. He found
that he could not have the exclusive use
OF anything. that he could only ride on
the rocking horse a short time, then it was
another child's turn; he could play with the
big blocks when he was willing to share them
with others, he had to wait his turn in
rolling or bouncing the ball. in riding the
bicycle, using the teetertooter, in playing in
the games, in watering the flowers, and
helping the teacher. 1t was very hard for
him at first, but gradually he learned that
he could only have happy time as he
conformed to the laws that governed all
the children.
One morning he was working on the floor
with the large blocks. He had more than
he was using, and Harry needed some to
put roof on his house. He asked Dickey
very politely for few. but Dickey refused
and gathered them closer to himself. Harry
pleaded, told him he did not need them
all, but to no avail. When he found Dickey
so unreasonably selfish he decided he would
take some of the blocks. whereupon Dickey
became so angry that he ran over and
knocked down the house that Harry had
built with so much care. John. one Of the
big boys. saw it all. and took Harry's part.
This made Dickey very, very angry, and
he stamped and cried very loudly. The
Kindergarten went over and quietly took
Dickey by the hand. She did not scold him
or moralize about it. but wiped his eyes
and gave him a nice cold drink of water.
took him to little table and let him sit
all by himself. Soon he became interested
in watching the other children who were
busily working. When the cord on the
piano struck. which was the signal for
them to gather together for songs. the
teacher asked Dickey to join them.
After they had finished singing they
began to talk about different things. and
finally the conversation turned to Dickey's
behavior about the blocks. One child said
that boy who acted that way should be
sent home, another that he should not be
allowed to play with the blocks again for
a week. another that the children should
not play with him. Perhaps the best sug
gestion made was that Dickey should build
Harrys house again, but one child objected,
saying. HE can't make as nice house as
Harry, because he has not been in kinder
garten long," which was quite true.
Dickey's head sank lower and lower on
his chest. he was feeling the weight OF
public opinion. The kindergartener said
perhaps Dckey himself could think of some
way to help matters, but Dickey was tot
much embarrassed and began to cry
Patsy went over and put her arms abou
his neck and whispered something to him
He did not move, even when the children
went back to their work. He sat quietly TO
ten minutes, then he ran over to the teacher
buried his head in her lap and sobbed
I'm am so sorry" She said, Il know you
are sorry, come let US go and tell Harry.
She took him by the hand and his other hant
slipped into his pocket and grasped some
thing. am sorry Harry, he said shyly
with downcast eyes. then suddenly Lowell
lolly-pop lay on the table before Harry. an
Dickey ran to his seat all smiles an read
for work.
EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE.