Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-03-04
DailyRation
Of Fun in
Glass Room
Young Reciprocate
With Better
Work.
BY ANGELO PATRT.

CHILDREN must have fun. daily
ration of laughter that shakes out
any dark thoughts that fatigue brings
with it. We forget that the things
that are so easy for us to do. like dress
ing, learning to spell list of words,
running an Grand are hard work for
children. Every such duty calls for
effort and some degree of strain. That
is why they must have fun. They are
provided with an appetite for 1t so that
they will look for it if we are thought
less enough to neglect opportunities OF
providing it.
A healthy child laughs many times
a day. One of the first signals of
danger is the absence of smiles and
laughter. The sad or sOber-faced child
is ready for illness. Give him vaca-
ton, break up his routine, let him
change his ways little and give him
chance to play with kitten or
puppy if he is old enough to be trusted
with pet. Somehow. some way, give
him a chance to laugh-healthy
laughter
Children usually play the games that
give them the most fun. They will
play if they have chance, and school
ought to provide that. The trouble
with school games is that they are too
closely supervised and therefore be-
come a lesson instead of game. A
real game is the one selected and
played by the children themselves
without any help or guidance from
the teacher. There ought to be a
period for learning new games, for
teaching rules. for preparing for tour
naments and the like. but it should not
take time from the free play which is
the daily ration of fun.
A little fun ought to enter into every
class room along with the lessons. The
teacher who cannot smile, the class
that cannot laugh without losing con-
troll, are in poor condition for work.
An experienced superintendent OF
schools used to have his own method
of testing the discipline of class. He
would sit in the teachers chair. look
smilingly over the class, anC then tell
them a funny story. After they had
laughed at it he would gradually as
sumo his official pose. place his glasses
astride his nose, look over book that
was handy and say gravely, Now. let
me SEE II the class shook them
selves gently into place, centered their
attention upon him. he would ask
them a few questions. smile upon them
and say, as he rose from the chair:
"A very intelligent class, Miss Prissy.
Very fine boys and girls indeed. Good
morning"
The teacher knew that she had re-
ceived her degree as master OF class
room arts. Not for him the rigid pose,
the strained teacher. but easy control.
confidence between teacher and class.
A little fun cements that confidence.
The same thing at home. Children
who are given opportunity for good
fun. who are taught the difference be-
tween fun and fooliShnesS. are lntelli-
gent about all behavior. This is not
as easy as it sounds A sense of hllmor
can be cultivated, but it cannot be
created. Fun cannot be forced. 1t
must be induced by gentle means,
gradually. as the child grows. 1t must
be adjusted to his changing growth.
And it must be genuine. No practical
Jokes. No ridicule of others. Fun
must have the warmth OF fellowship
in it to be genuine. Don't forget it
when you set the daily routine. Leave
space for it's creation.
copyright, 1850