Evening star., 1951-08-15

book bags and unknown treasures.
Lively chatter fills the closet as
coats are hung up and the chill
dren find their seats in the large
circle.
Bonnie arrives with a large box
in hand and the children swarm
curiously around her. She calls
excitedly, Miss Addington. I got
my hamster! His name is Squegy.
He's a boy and he can't have
babies" The new pet joins our
family along with Bubble Gum,
the guinea pig; Puddles, the duck;
Pokey, the turtle, and innumer-
able other creatures of nature.
The stragglers come in, the, bell
rings, and it is time to begin the
serious occupation of going to
school.
It's Tommy's turn to lead the
opening exercises and he stands
before his class with the conf
dence and poise of a lawyer.
Bow your heads, please-Stand
and salute the f1ag-What song
would you like to sing-Who has
something to share with us?"
Stevie is exuberant in telling
about the telescope, the moon
and the stars which he saw when
his father took him to the Naval
Observatory. Kammy is proud
when she shows a funny clown
puppet and tells the children how
she helped her mother make it.
Hannah introduces her little
brother Davie who has come to
visit for the day Merry asks anx-
iously, do you know that things
are so bad in Korea that even
the gorillas are flghting?"
We discuss and plan the work
for today. Yesterday they learned
about Roman numerals and today
they decide to put them on clocks.
They will set them at the time
they get up, go to school, eat. go
home, go to bed. Jimmy suggests
they make up stories about the
hamster. Tommy thinks it would
be a good idea to make puppets
of their own. The group disperses
to do independently the activities
which they have discussed.
While I Join one of the reading
groups, you examine this large
airy schoolroom with its excellent
lighting, cheerful colors, abundant
storage space and functional
workbench. The movable tables
and chairs offer unlimited oppor-
tunity for varied activity pro-
gram.
Lunch in the room is a family
affair as each host or hostess leads
his or her group in giving thanks.
At lunch there is spontaneous
exchange of thoughts. -. did you
see what Clarabel did last night?''I
"I know how to connect the
battery" You're not supposed
to talk when your mouth is full of
food" "Oh. look!- My tooth
came out" ..
Susie changes the records dur
ing quiet time while the others
rest, read or draw. I read to them
about Raggedy Andy. Later today
they will tell their own stories.
Five f1rst-graders hover hesi-
family around the door. I'VE
came to show you how well we
have learned to print"
THAT is very good printing" say
the sophisticated second-graders.
Mr.. Rignall, the principal, drops
In and is greeted warmly by his
ardent admirers.
Number work, recess, music
and the time has come for the
children to clean up the room. In
our circle again we plan for to-
morrow-a number game; some
one will bring a box to make a
puppet stage; We will plan our
auditorium program, and we must
not forget our lunch money
The children are restless. Teach
er feels tired and somewhat eager
for the close of the day when Blair
smiles sweetly and says, You
know. Miss Addington, I wish
school would go on and on and on
and on :"