Milford chronicle., 1941-06-13
M0M e EDWGAT ION
"The -Chiid's First School is the
Family"-FRoEBEL
Issued by the National Klndergarten
Association, 8 West 40th Street,
New York City
SETTLING THEIR OWN
DIFFICULTIES
IIiIda Richmond

What in the world is all the ex-
citement about?" asked young Mrs
Gale, pausing to look over the
hedge and talk TO her neighbor. "Is
ii convention, or riot, or a cele-
bration or what? My John may be
in the mix-up for all know"
"They are holding court" said
Mrs, Porter with a Taught. Come
in and be a witness or an onlOOk-
er, if you like"
I Wondering, the young matron
entered and took a seat ON the
porch bench i'm the shade. Her own
John was on his feet telling that
he saw Betty push Billey and make
him lose the race. Betty then had
a chance to tell that her foot slip
ped, and it was not her fault that
she pushed Billy. Others told what
they knew about the whole diff
Guilty, and presently the children
were playing happily with no one
guilty" or requiring punishment.
"And are all the difficulties settl-
ed as easily and happily as this
dispute about the racer" inquired
Mrs. Gale, as the two ladies retired
to the house.
by no means! Yesterday it took
two officers to escort my Jimmy
to the house where he was obliged
to remain for twenty minutes. They
have an old clock that runs, after
a fashion, and they enforce law and
order in their own way. Jimmy
said they were unfair and that he
was innocent, but he didn't appeal
his case-they seldom dO-so
kept still. Jimmy said that never
again would he play with the bad
children but when his punish
ment was finished, he ran out to
take a hand in a wild game of
Black Man. as happy as a lark.
One way or another, they have all
been punished at some time, but a
spirit of fair play seems to pre-
vail"
"And do you never interfere?"
asked Mrs. Gale.
There is a list of punishments
that are permissible. Beyond this
the children's court may not go.
And the ,culprit may always appeal
to a higher court. In that case one
or more parents make up the court,
but punishments are meted out by
this court are apt TO be more Sc
vere."
Listen! | believe something else
has come up" said the visitor, so
they hastened back to the porch.
my mother didn't tell me that
couldn't climb a tree,P said John
Gale, red-faced and angry. What's
wrong with climbing this tree, I'd
like to lnow!r
"a robin has her nest up there,
and you might shake the birds out
Of the nest" cried the other chill
dren. 1--WE won't let you climb this
tree" {
Pooh! Who ever heard of shak- :
ing a nest off a limb? I'm going
right up, and you can't stop me-" 6
said the defiant little boy. my fa- /
her says it makes strong muscles
o learn to climb" {
Mrs. Gale half rose from her seat d
o take hand in the discussion /
md say that John must stay on the i
,round, but she dropped back and A
what went on. The "Chief L
# Police" for the day, with a big
,adge on his chest, came up and
promptly arrested John, and once N
more court was in session. Il
Il think it is safe to go on and N
10 my errands," laughed Mrs. Gale. o
But l hope they release my son o
n time for lunch. | am glad he b
id not resist the officer and get Y
eavier sentence. But how did they N
yer come to play together like
his? Where did they learn about 81
ourt?" IL
"I'll tell you" answered the hos W
sss. "Once there was a case In j.
Durt with regard TO an accident "
rat occurred on this street. and
lost of the neighbors were wit al
esses. Having no one with whom 0l
, leave our children, we had to B
Ike them with us to the courtroom. @
nd they were fascinated with the s.
AT once they started bI
play court and have kept it up M
,er since. 1t keeps them occupied, VI
I'd what is more important, they W
'e developing worthwhile attri- til
ltes-good judgment and fair
ay. For my part, hope they will dl
,ep It up" m
do you think this idea of play vi
'urt would work well in any nc
IL
Perhaps not. The children would
ok the experience that prompted to
here. With other experiences, lily
ey would have other interests. en-
rat certainly makes one realize Ea
w very influential a child's ex- Ia
riences are!" We
''Yes," said Mrs, Gale ne