Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1928-09-22

(This is the first of a series OF
articles on various activities OF
the Las Vegas Schools. Others will
follow from time to time. Since
our schools require for their main
tenance by far the greater portion
of the money raised by taxation
more definite knowledge OF
what is being done in our schools
andhow, should be of interest to
every taxpayer-Editor)
Have you ever gone to kim
dergarten, either as a pupil or a
visitor? In case you missed the
privilege Of attending as a pupil,
you have surely missed one of
| the fines phases of school life.
If you have never visited one, you
have a treat in store.
I once heard a woman say that
she would like 10 have her
daughter become a kindergarten
teacher, because it was such easy
work "Only a few hours work
a day" said she. "and all they
have to do is to play with the
darling little children"
/ I must admit that my own
ideas of the qualifications nee
eSsary for a kindergarten teacher
were just about as hazy as those
/ of the lady who wanted an
easy job for her daughter, but
after watching Miss Hancock 5
( activities Friday morning, I
realize that 1 suffered from an
/ abysmal ignorance. I can hon.
estly warn fond mothers who
are looking for something easy
for daughter to have them take
up washing and ironing, or pos
sibly floor scrubbing, with a little
ditch digging on the side.
{ To be a successful kindergar-
tene-. one must combine the quail
ifications of a nursemaid, valet,
lady's maid, interpreter, teacher
! of Languages and the three RS,
play ground director, diplomat
dietician, musician, both instru-
mental and vocal, and should in
addition have fairly good
grounding in the arts, first aid,
sewing carpentry and the law.
! No doubt have overlooked
some important qualifications but
I think I have named the mai
ority.
Most of us have but the faint
est idea OF what the kindergarten
: tries to do. We think OF 1t as a
bic, pleasant Sunshiny room.
( where children of the restless pre-
school age are gathered together
and amused while mother does
the house work in the morn
! ing.
To quote Miss Hancock, The
child comes to kindergarten with
his social instincts largely undir-
ected. He is an individual with
little or no appreciation OF the
rights of others. His ADJUST
ments have been limited to mem
bers of the family group. In the
freely organized kindergarten, the
pupil comes in contact with others
of his own age, and ordinarily
changes his mode OF reacuon
when necessary for the good OF
others.
AS soon as possible, when oc-
casions present themselves, he Is
trained to see the need of chang
ed conduct and modifieS his be-
hayior accordingly. Perhaps the
greatest single contribution OF
the kindergarten to education is
the opportunity given the child
to make social adjustments. he
is placed where he learns to work
and play happily with others
He acquires approved social nap
bits. He becomes Increasingly
ware of himself and society ano
their mutual relationship. He
grows steadily in greater appre-
ciation of the duties and advanta-
ges of group living"
In the group of 25 beginners
in Miss Hancock's morning class
who have been attending kinder
garten less than three weeks
with the above points in mino' l.
is a simply thing to pick ou'
those in the group who are So
cially inclined, and those wht
have not the social instinct, IL
other words, those who are IN
4 dividualists. o-
1t is nine o'clock and the q
children. all of whom might ot
classed as babies, have assembled
in the bright, sunshiny room
and are seated in circle in kin
dergarten chairs. Miss Eancoef
occupies one with the pupils.
IT wonder if we all have the
right chairs?" says Miss Han
cock.
with much fidgeting and twist
ing the youngsters look at the
chairs in which they are sitting
and a few change to other chairs
which are either higher or lower
Frances" says the teacher
"are you sitting in the right kinc
of chair for a girl with long
legs?"
IT think so" replies Frances
well you take the chair yot
are sitting in and place 1t be-
side that chair over there anc
|; chairs Metaion shrdlu cmfwpy
So Frances places the two
chairs side by side, and finds
sL,o hoe haay, citing in one of the