The First School Year; For Primary Workers

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895. Excerpt: ... Cbapter ft. WHAT THE KINDERGARTEN DOES FOR THE CHILDREN. OTHERS and teachers have a right to ask kindergartners to give a reason for the faith that is in them; to say, "Tell us what the kindergarten is actually and practically going to do for our children." Fathers have a right to ask mothers whose hearts are set on putting the children into a kindergarten, "What is the good of it, anyway?" and unless the kindergartner can tell the mother in a way she can understand, the mother cannot tell the father in a way which will make him feel that he is paying bills to any particular purpose. The average mother of children to-day believes in a general way that the kindergarten is a good thing. She believes this because people tell her so. She knows that the teachers are usually earnest and conscientious women, that the children are amused and entertained, that they learn pretty songs and plays, and make brightcolored little gimcracks for her to take care of. But j ust wherein consists the direct educational advantage, the intellectual and spiritual good, is the point where ideas are apt to be a little hazy. She sometimes wonders why her child should be better off in a kindergarten than playing happily at home or out-of-doors. Now it is very hard for a young kindergartner to formulate an answer to questions on these points. She knows a good deal more than she can tell. Like the children, she can at first express better in deeds than in words. To give any simple, definite, and satisfactory statement of the purpose of the kindergarten, such a statement as will form clear ideas in a mother's mind, is not easy for any kindergartner, on account of the comprehensiveness of the subject; for it is as broad as human nature; it is nothing more nor less than a thought and int...