Trending
Miss Ida Heers Starts All
Little Folk On Trip
Thru Grades
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EARLY TRAINING IS
OF GREAT VALUE
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Every Method Used
Has A Definite Meaning
To Children
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Because we believe it will be interesting for parents and friends of the school to know how children are being trained in the various departments of the public schools of this city, this Review is starting a series of articles which will show the school life of the children from the kindergarten thru the various grades to the high school where they prepare for further education in higher institutions of learning or where they are trained to take part in the active business life of the community. Many changes have been made since some of us went thru the grades and the methods will be of interest to all our readers.
–Editor's Note.
"School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days." Ding-a-ling went the bell and once more the Review editor had started school again. Miss Ida Heers is the teacher of the kindergarten departments of the local public school, having classes in the Washington school during the morning hours and in the Lincoln building in the afternoon.
Tiny Tots At Work
To enter the pleasant, cheerful room used by the kindergarten in the Lincoln school was our experience Friday afternoon. Bright faces of the little tots who were seated at tables in the room, greeted us as we entered. Every boy and girl in the room was at attention because they were having a visitor. They had just finished their work with colored beads and pegs and were sitting quietly around their little tables waiting for further instruction from Miss Heers.
Have A Pleasant Room
Large windows along the north side of the building furnished good light and on the ledges of the large windows large baskets and vases of varied colored flowers had been arranged. Around the south side of the room the slate blackboards were decorated with American flags drawn on the boards with colored crayons. Pictures which are used in the course of training had been arranged around the chalk and eraser railing. In the center of the floor a wide black line marked off a circle.
Activities Are Interesting
As the name of each child was called, he or she took their place within this circle. Eager little faces were turned toward their teacher, anxiously waiting to hear their name so that they might join the group of happy children in the center of the room. Each chair was placed in position beneath the table by each child as they left their table. Because it was their privilege to talk at this interval, the boys and girls were talking together in hurried whispers. Before James could join his playmates he had to deposit his fresh stick of Wrigley's chewing gum in the waste basket beside the teacher's desk and after learning that children do not chew gum in kindergarten, he took his place in the circle. Dear little twin girls held tightly to one another and crowded close to the little boy with golden curly hair. As the teacher took her place in the center, all faces were turned toward her. It was time for them to sing the folk songs. In subdued tones each child started to sing "A Sunshiny Day." Norma stood beside her teacher and led the singing. Their clear sweet voices grew louder as they sang, "Good Afternoon To You, Good afternoon to you. We're all in our places with Sunshiny Faces, This is the way to start a new day."
"Little Boo Peep" was the next song and before singing they told the story of the picture which had been placed on the black board. They readily recognized the picture and sang the song merrily. Next the story was acted out, a little girl playing the part of Boo Peep and other children following as sheep.
"Mary Had A Little Lamb" is a favorite with these children and great glee was exhibited when their teacher allowed them to act out the nursery rhyme and sing the song.
Becoming restless, the teacher suggested that the children all take a little rest. At that word the children laid down on the floor remaining very quiet. They were asked to tell what noises they heard. One heard the clock ticking, another heard noises in the room above. During this time Miss Heers had put a record on the phonograph and at the first sound of the music the children were on their feet marking time. One little boy slid quietly into the chair which stood nearby, too shy to join in further play with the children: Very orderly the little tots formed a line and marched around the circle, their teacher leading. A series of exercises were carried out with music, each child keeping time.
Teach Observance
To teach the children to become observant, a game of hiding is played, the children choosing this game themselves. When asked what game they would like to play, a chorus of voices, called "hide the pebble." One child would blind his eyes while another passed around the circle and deposited the pebble in the hands of one of the children in the group. The child who had blinded his eyes was then asked to find the pebble. When he found the pebble the child who held it would have to blind his eyes while the finder gave the pebble to some one else. They played this game by having a child leave the circle and the child who had blinded his eyes had to guess who was gone. This they did very quickly in each instance.
During the course of the afternoon the children cut paper and paste their cuttings into shapes, some resembling flowers, figures, etc. In this way they learn to recognize colors, animals of all kinds, trees, flowers, fruits, etc.
One of the periods they like best is that of molding things out of clay. Many different colors of clay are used and they are given an opportunity to make anything they choose. Some of the children made nests with tiny eggs in them, birds, pipes, doll beds with dolls in them, boats, balls, dishes, pies, cakes, etc. Some of the children do splendid work with the clay and attempt to display some of their ideas.
Outlining by sewing with bright threads on cards, weaving, story telling, and other features are introduced in this work. Everything done in the kindergarten is done for some purpose.
It has some meaning. Children learn discipline. They learn to be quiet and attentive and are thus prepared for their work in the primary room.
These kiddies are anxious to take part in all of the work given during the afternoon. They show their pleasure in the broad smiles which light their faces as they look upon the things they have accomplished.
When time comes for dismissal, the children pass quietly to the cloak room and return with their wraps. They stand beside their places at the tables and put yon their coats. The little boys hold their caps in their hands until they leave the room and in the outer hall the line of march is halted and caps are put on before they leave the building. Before passing from their room they sing a goodbye song.
Safety Training
Their teacher then asks what they are to remember on the way home. A chorus of voices chime out "Automobiles." "And what must you do when you come to the street crossings?" asks Miss Heers. "Stop and wait for cars to go by before we cross," they answer and bidding their teacher goodnight, they start for home.
And thus we find the youth of tomorrow entering school life when they are five years old or less. They are learning to "work while they work and play while they play" and in this way they lay a foundation for the work that is to follow as they enter the grades and later take up high school life. The early training is of great benefit to all children and the early principles learned in the kindergarten department will follow them thru their entire school training and when they have become established in the business life of this or other communities they will be able to trace back to their earliest school days and vivid in their mind will remain the lessons taught at kindergarten.
New Ulm Review
September 26, 1926
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