HALF-AN-HOUR IN THE KINDERGARTEN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1586, 20 March 1879, Page 3

HALF-AN-HOUR IN THE KINDERGARTEN.

The title of this brief sketch may perhaps be somewhat puzzling to the great majority *of readers, and requires explanation. Kindergarten then, or rendered into English children’s garden, is the latest method of imparting knowledge to young children. By the courtesy of Mr Curnow, the head master of the Christchurch 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 memory. This is done by a rythmical description of the object desired to be made familiar to the ctildren sang by them. For instance, during the visit yesterday, the school clock was selected as a subject for ilustration. The face of the clock, the figures, the hands, pendulum, weights &c. were described by the class in verse, and also the different motion of the pendulum, hands, &c. This method is carried on 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 with specimens of all kinds, such as grain, rice, cotton, raw and manufactured, oils of various kinds, &c. The teacher then, in giving a lesson upon these, simply states the 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 thus 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 the floor in front of the class, and after the different shapes of the letters are impressed upon them, the same rhythmical process is repeated until they are quite familiar to all. As we have 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.