Editor's Note: Children are now required to meet ever-rising academic standards, and at the same time are finding themselves with less free time to play in a non-organized and unscheduled manner. This includes the growing trend to discontinue a period of recess during the school day. In light of this, we thought it would be useful to hear from this Concord educational progressive who helped institute play as an important and valuable part of the curriculum. Keep in mind that he was presenting an alternative to the more strictly regimented and highly disciplined norm at most other schools.
Young people find ways enough of amusing themselves and we best leave them much to their choice in such matters; yet some slight superintendence seems becoming -- some interest shown by us in their pleasures -- since these exert a commanding influence in forming their tastes and characters, and cannot be safely neglected by their guardians.
They are a school for the fancy and the heart; they may play the part of the school of virtue or of scandal, as well or ill chosen. The streets are the gymnasia of the young, the world they live in largely, the widest, the freest range they know and are permitted to enjoy. Herein are they fairly launched into life, and left free to follow their inclinations -- masters of themselves for the time, and servants of their senses and devotees. 'Let us play' is the privileged version of their creed, and they enter with the unction of enthusiasm into the sweet sports they love. Then they show what they are; casting all reserve aside their souls leap sunward glossy gay into the in abandonment to fancy and fun.
And now is the teacher's golden opportunity for learning the temper, and tendencies of these enthusiasts at their pastimes outside. Nor need his presence mar their sports. Any indifference to these matters shows some defect of sensibility and an unfitness for his task. A teacher should have much good company in him and tact in making himself as agreeable out of doors as inside....
See your message here! More info
|
Kindergarten
A note from Bronson Alcott from the same source as at left: "Kinder Garten: For little children, a ray of sunshine has fallen on their path from the kind soul of Froebel, in his carefully devised system of Recreation and Gifts for them. 'Tis the school master in the nursery and garden; the genius of sensibility set fairly to work for their edification and delight. 'It developes (sic) the facilities in a pleasing manner, gives perception of form, beauty, and color, manual dexterity, and lays the foundation for intellectual and moral culture.'"
Elizabeth Peabody, Alcott's assistant, was deeply devoted to the educational theories and practices of Friedrich Froebel, the German founder of the Kindergarten system. Alcott embraced Elizabeth's interests and put them to work in his schools starting with the Temple School in Boston, which predated his residence in Concord. Peabody later went on to establish the first American Kindergarden.
Here are two links to Froebel and Kindergarten:
(thanks Tom Clark and Leslie Perrin Wilson for your help on this!)
|
Other Art: Ann Stretton
