HALF-AN-HOUR IN THE KINDERGARTEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 118, 26 March 1879, Page 2

HALF-AN-HOUR IN THE KINDERGARTEN.

From the Press. The title of this brief sketch may perhaps be somewhat puzzling to the great majority of readers, and requires explanation, Kindergarten, then, into English children's garden, is the latest method of imparting knowledge to young children. Bytho courtesy of Mv Gurnow, the head master of the Christchurcli East School, one of our representatives yesterday paid a visit to the kindergarten in connection with that school, under charge of Mrs Field. The method employed may be briefly stated as combining amusement with instruction—in reality administering doses of knowledge to the little ones in a pleasant form, and yet so effectually as to impress the lessons on their momoiy, This is done by a rythmical description of the object desired to be made familar to the children sung by them. For instance, during the visit yesterday, the school clock was selected us a subject for illustration, The face of the clock, the figures, the hands, pendulum, weights &c. wore described by the class in verse, and also the different motions of the pendulum, hands, &c. This method is carried 011 with regard to other objects, and the tunes to which the verses are set being simple melodies are easily learnt. The motions for the description of the parts, such as a round clock face, &c., are also useful in conveying to the children an idea of the construction. The little ones take a far greater interest in the lesson than if it were simply read or described by the teacher, besides which they become practically acquainted with the various articles. So also with regard to objects of commerce, or in use in daily life,' there is an excellent way of impressing not only their names but appearance upon the minds of the children. This is done by means of a small cabinet containing drawers fitted witli specimens of all kinds, such as grain, rice, cotton, raw and manufactured, oils of various kinds, &c. The teachers then, in giving a lesson upon these, simply states tho name of the article and then the specimen is passed round the class, so that each child has before it the article itself, and its mind is informed through the agency of sight, which renders the object perfectly familiar. For the ones who are only just learning their alphabet a series of printed letters are placed on tho floor in front of the class, and pressed upon them, the same rhythmical process is repeated until they are quite familiar to all,

As we liave said, the object of the system is to combine amusement with instruction, and thus keep the minds of the children from being oppressed, whilst they are practically gaining knowledge in a pleasant manner. Altogether, half an hour spent at the kindergarten is time pleasantly and profitably spent.