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In The Ann Arbor Schools

In The Ann Arbor Schools image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
January
Year
1889
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

" Take out the cylindera and hold them in the left hand," said the teacher in the first grade of the F urth ward school, the other day, as The Register reporter getlled him8elf comfortably to watch the kindergarten work. Each pupil took eageily from a little box a wooden cylinder and held it in varying degrees of ease as near as he could in the manner directed. With the forefinger of the right hand they were then required to trace on the cylinder vertical and horizontal Unes, and then they traced the same lines in the air, making an oblong figure. A Ephere was next taken, and a circle was traced with the finger. The sphere was then required to be placed on one end of the cylinder, and the pupila were asked what the combination resembled. One smart boy shouted, "hitching post," and the teacher acknowledged that tbere might be somelhing in t to suggest that useful wayside ornament. Few of the parents in Ann Arbor who bave no children in the first or second grades know that some parts of the kindergarten system have been introduced into the city schools here. This new step was taken last fall, but even cow it is hardly con8dered an experiment, so well eatisfied are all connected with it that the kindergarten work or play supplementg the regular or usual work in an exceedingly valuable way. Superintendent Perry, under whose management the Ann Arbor schools keep their enviable position, watches the new work with keen scientific interest Phere are disputed points yet, he says n this kindergarten systern, and he 13 not certain just how much can be U9ed advanageously in Ann Arbor. About thirty minutes each day are devoted to the kindergarten work in the irst and second grades of all the ward schools of Ann Arbor. Supt. Perry ciadly arranged to have The Register witness several features of the work in he 6rst grade of the Fourth ward, where tliss Lucy K. Colé presides. Much of the uccess of the experiment is due to llis? Colé. Last summer ehe took a course ia the kindergarten system at the Bay View Fummer tchool, which was conducted by Miss Ross, the most accompliaheu exponent in the West of that system. During the fall term. Miss Cole met the teachers of the first and second grades on Saturdays and taught them the advanced work. The U class in thia room containing no pupils more than five yeara old, take nothing but kiudergarten work. Gathered around a long table, and under the guidance of Miss Vogk, the little ones perfórate circies and then sew them with yarn of various colors. The rings are tnen colored with creyón, and the pupils are taught to select oolors that harmonize wilh thfi colors of the yarn. Picking up six balls of yarn of different colors, Miss Cole exhibited the fruit market gaine, and the pupils entered into it with great zesr. Holding up the pnrple ball the teacher asked what fruit the color reminded them of. One tbought that it was tomatoe?, showing that he needed the exercise to sharpen fais memory and power of observation. Purple grapea were finally voted by the school to correspond in color with the purpla ball. ': Purple grapes, purple grape?, who will buy my puiple grapes?" sang the teacher. ''Purple grapei, purple grapes, we will buy your purple grapes," promptly sang the chorus in response. Thfi purple ball was given to one pupil and placed in his pocket along with the nails, buttons, strings, knive, etc, which a boy carries. The ye'low ball reminded them of leinone ; the blue ball of plumbs; the ornge ball of oranges; the red ball of cherries, and so on; the singing was repeated in each case, and each fruit finally found a purchaser and was stowed away in cnpacous pocketg. Now came the test. Oae boy was selected to gather j the balls, and in order to getthem restored I to the teacher he must remember the purchaser and which color each of the six purchasers had. The first pupil succeeded in getting two balls and then "flunked ;" but the second, a girl, went straight to the actual holders, named the colors correctly, and the game was concluded. As a drill for the memory, it is an excellent exercise. This game is also carried out with flowers substituted for fruit, and the power of the young boys and girls to distinguUh colors, and the taste for observing and distinguishing color in natural objects, are thu euliivated. " Parquetry" is the technical name for another exercise which is designed mainly to cultívate a taste for symmetry. Circles, squares and oblongs cut from paper of various colors, are placed before each pupil. K:ch pupil was required to design some figure with these bits of paper and to do it without assistance. Starting, for example, with a cirole for a center, the the pupil buüds up around ie with circles, squares and oblongs. Many exhibit great ingenuity in making combinations that balance well in all parts and in color. A few show an utter lack of an idea of proportion nd symmetry; but all improve in that respect. Often it is certain from the work done that the pupil has a design in his mind that he is struggliog to biing out; but carTt quite arrange the little pieces of paper ju.se right. A gentle hint or word of encouragement will clear away the mist and the figure will be perfected into something really pretty. Again, one of the quicker pupils will be called by the teacher and he discovers the design in the little brain of the uneuccessful worker, and quickly fixes ihe papers accordingly. Some of these designs have been preserved and hung in the room. The pupils, under the lead of the teacher, have ornamented the room with pietures, nere, cat-tails, oíd bird-nests, etc., and henee feel a sort of proprietary interest in the school. Singing and reciting in concert, with physical exercises, followed. The excitement and joy of the little ones was contagious. They couldn't get enough of it evidently; for n the few minutes before recess their eagerness for the simple verses recited constantly led thim to oall for more, and in a different manner than Oliver Twist preferred his famous request. The pupils marched around the room, keeping time to the tapping of a belt. When the bell ceased sounding the pupils suddenly stopped. Then the bell began sounding rapidly and the little ones trotted arouud the room clapping their hands. There was a wild tumult for a minute, but it was quiet in an instant on the signal from the teacher. There were exercises for the shoulder, the hands, the arm and the body. They imitated the motious of the arm and body in swimming, and with one hand on the knees for an auvil, they dealt Nwmging and sledgehammer blows in imitation of the blacksmith. The aingine of "Temperance Bells," accompanied by appropriate action, was very pretty. Óf course in 80 short a time it was mpossible to exhibit all parts of (he work. Clay mndeling is a feature of great interest. The second grade work carries the modeling and deignin to more complicated forma. All this work fits nicely nto the regular teaching of drawing which :ias become so important a feature in educational work with ihe young.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register