Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-25
EDUCATION
FORUM
By BENJAMIN FINE

Question: How important is
kindergarten to children who
have attended nursery classes
and are well adjusted? My
twins will be 5 years old this
July and therefore ready for
kindergarten. For the past two
years they have attended nur-
sery classes once a week at the
YWCA. They can print their
names and all the letters and
numbers, but I have not at
tempted to teach them to read.
Would kindergarten have an
adverse effect on them? Will
they get any more than they
got in nursery school?
Answer: Kindergarten is an
important experience in the
life of every child. We know
pretty definitely that children
who go to kindergarten are
able to adjust more readily
when they enter the first grade.
The fact that your twins have
gone to nursery school once a
week will help them adjust to
kindergarten. And the fact
that they want to read and
already know how to print
their names and recognize let
tiers, also will prove valuable.
Nursery schools are impor-
tant, but they are not designed
to replace kindergartens. I'm
fortunately, many communi-
ties do not have free public
kindergartens. AS an economy
measure some school systems
have abolished them. This is a
pity. Kindergartens are an es-
sential part of the school pro-
gram. BY all means, permit
your twins to enter. They will
get more in the way of train
ing and education than they
received in their once-a-week
nursery school.
Will the youngsters be bored
in kindergarten after two years
of nursery experience? Not If
the teachers are alert and are
able to challenge the children.
In kindergarten children learn
to work and play with each
other, to share each others
toys and games, and to become
adjusted socially. They won't
get much in the way Of reading
or writing, of course. If you
find that your twins are ready
to read, why don't you teach
them? We now know that 1t
is quite proper to help children
read and write at home. And
a year from July, when they
are 6, they will be ready, and
I daresay beautifully adjusted
for the first grade.
Question: I have a problem
concerning my 13-year-old son
a seventh-grade student. He
has never done very well in
school, but has always beer
promoted. Now suddenly I an
told that he has better-than.
average intelligence and there
is no reason for his poor schoo
work. I have been told that
my sons problem is not too un'
common among boys and tina
he'll wake up" one of these
days. Is this true? Should .
consider sending him to {
remedial school?
Answer: Advice in one word
Relax! If your boy has allow
average intelligence, as you in
dictate, he will reach his owl
intellectual level before long
Many boys stumble along Will,
in elementary school. They ar
more concerned with sports
tinkering with the Hi-Fi or ra
dio, or with just Laying arount
the house than with studies
Nagging won't help. Nor vii
sending the boy away to a spe
cial remedial" school, whateve
that may be.
I would advise you to chez
with your sons guidance coun
selor, or with his principal. VIII,
does he ignore his studies? Doe
he have room of his own t.
study? Does he get encourage
ment at home? Is he lookin
ahead towards high school an
college?
The problem of the under
achiever has always been wit
us. We know that many brigh
boys and girls, who should b
- above average in their schot