Clinton News-Record, 1953-10-01, Page 2PAGE TWO
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CL1NTO1V NEWS -RECORD
THURSDAY,. OCTOBER 1, 19.5a
Good First Year Is
Necessary For Child
(Ed Note: Kindergarten .clas-
ses, which this year are in the
charge of Mrs. George Falconer,
at Clinton Public School, were
begun in the Clinton school, just
seven years ago, Since that
is the year that youngsters get
their first look at the school
life ahead of them, and inmany
cases is the first chance they
have ofbeing away from one or
both of their parents, it is very
important, We have at hand a
copy of an address given .by the
late Miss Marion Gibbings,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 13. J.
Gibbings, Gibbings St., to a
meeting of the Home and School
Club in Dundas, where she
taught fpr many years. The
occasion of the opening of the
new school seemed an approp-
riate time to present this inter-
esting address to the readers of
the Clinton News -Record.)
"The word, 'Kindergarten' is a
self-explanatory word of German
origin. Translated into English it
rneans "A Child's Garden". Now
we picture a garden as a place of
beauty, a pleasant place, and a
very desirable place to be, and
that is just what we should strive
to make our kindergarten.
"The room itself should be at-
tractive, with lots of books, toys,
flowers, and things that children
like. It is the teacher's job to
create a desirable atmosphere and
see that the children are happy.
I would much rather hear a par-
ent say, 'My child loves school'
than to hear them boast .of a fine
specimen brought home. To me
the former is much more impor-
tant.
"A garden is also a place where
young life is nurtured and culti-
vated. So is a kindergarten. We
take a very tender little life away
from its mother and its home, the
only environment it knows. We
transplant it into a new world
and start it out in life. It is a
tremendous step for him. We can
hardly realize how monstrous and
colossal it seems to the child.
"It is then a teacher's privilege
and opportunity to bridge over
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this gap and fill it up as pleasant-
ly as possible. We cannot over-
estimate the importance of this
first step and the necessity of
making it • the right kind of a
start. I believe you can make or
break a child in that all important
first year experience.
"The child puts tremendous
onus on you and you are very im-
portant to him. They often• call.
you 'Mother', I don't mind that
but I do object to 'Grandma',
which I occasionally get.
"We use the Froebell system in
our kindergarten, Froebell was a
German by birth and the real
originator of the kindergarten. He
wrote interesting text -books out-
lining his methods.
"Rhythm plays a major part in
our programme and this finds ex-
pression in the rhythm band, and
in our songs and games. Our day's
programme consists of opening ex-
ercises, the morning circle, (where
we sing songs and have a topic
which we talk about), then the.
rhythm band, milk and recess.
After recess we have songs and
games, our work period and a
story.
'During the morning circle I
usually try to have something
concrete around for our talk. For
example, the other morning we
talked about the. milkweed and
we had a specimen there for the
children to see. The children at
this time have an opportunity to
tell you anything they would like
to tell, And here is a warning:
I could be jailed if I were to tell
all that 1 hear and know, so be
very careful.
"I enjoy teaching kindergarten
and 1often wonder why. But I'
believe 1 like it because it's never
monotonous. You have something
new and fresh every day and you
get away from the monotony and
humdrum life of grade work.
Little children are most interest-
ing. and so° impressionable that
psychologically you can turn them
inside out. You are very import-
ant to them and I believe that
flatters your ego. All you: need is
a little patience, a love for little
children and the insight to under-
stand your individual child — for
every child is different and re-
quires individual handling and
understanding. •
"By spring my thumb is almost
worn through from putting on
goloshes and snow suits, but other
than a few incidentals like that,
it is, on the whole, very interest-
ing work. •
* * *
"Many mothers have asked me
the same --questions: 'Is my child
old enough to attend kindergar-
ten? At what age do you advise
them to start?' These are diffi-
cult questions to answer because
so many different things enter in-
to the situation. A child's age
chronologically may not corres-
pond with his mental age at all.
THE CAST
ALUMIN[
LETTERS
PROCLAIMING THE NAME OF YOUR
NEW SCHOOL
CLINTON PTF:` LIC SCHOOL
•,were manufactured by the
Aluminum Star Products Limited
175• College S. West Belleville, Ontario
MANUFACTURERS OF
"CAST ALUMINUM LETTERS FOR
PERMANENT SIGNS"
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Congratulate the Clinton School
Board for the fine success they have
achieved in the building of a new
Public School.
We were pleased to supply Drap-
ery Track and Draperies through-
out.
From the largest to the smallest
job we take pride in our work.
Make your Curtain and Drapery
rrobI n .s our Problems.
M'
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Mrs, Faieoner With Part of 1953 Kindergarten
-Photo by Hakes
MRS. GEORGE FALCONER is explaining something very interesting to her afternoon class
of kindergarten pupils at Clinton Public School. Numbering 60 children in all, the kindergarten
class is split into two sections. One group has class in the morning, and the other the afternoon,
The kindergarten classroom is at the northeast corner of the building, and has the benefit
of all the necessary modern equipment. The floor has an inlaid pattern resembling the face of a
clock, large enough for games and 'instructional purposes. A modern austral board is in use at the
front of the classroom, and a piano and lots Of cupboards filled with toys and materials helps to
make this first year of school an interesting one.
This can be caused by a physical
handicap. A healthy body usually
carries a ,healthy mind and then
there are some who just haven't
got what it takes. Some children
have a better chance than others,
for some parents can train a child
of pre-school age and this shows
up very strongly, I have had
children in my room that have
amazing general knowledge far
beyond their years. I remember
one who could always add intelli-
gently to practically anything I
was discussing in the class. In fact
one day he was about to be pun-
ished and I had gone to my desk
to get the strap. To avert my at-
tention he came up to my desk
and said, 'Miss Gibbings, would
you like me to tell you and the
class how the elephant got his
trunk and why the camel has a
hump?"
"I have a child in my room who
might be called a regular little
monkey for he is into everything,
never quiet. Give that child a
book and he is as good as gold.
His parents have read to him and
developed in him a love for books,
which is surely a wonderful thing.
"So you cansee it is a very
hard thing to set ahard and fast
rule for the proper age.
"However, I do advocate giving
the children (each child) an
achievement test when they come
to school and then you know fair-
ly closely where you are at. I
believe it will some day be com-
pulsory.'
L ,oyd Holland Receives High Award
Jr. Farmer Judging at Western Fair
Lloyd Holland was high man in Flynn, R.R. 1, Clinton, Western
the senior group of Junior Farm- Fair quiz, 22; livestock judging,
218; agricultural quiz, 15%. Berne -
McKinley, R.R. 1, Zurich, Western
Fair quiz, 21, Allan Haugh, R.R.
1, Brucefield, Western Fair quiz,
21. Fred Buchanan, R.R. 1, Clin-
ton, agricultural quiz, 13%.
Coacbing Ras Begun
Seventeen 4-H Club teams from
all over Huron are being coached
for the annual inter -county 4.1I
Club competitions which will be
held at OAC, Guelph, on October
16- The boys and girls compete
in teams of two, to represent their
club and their county, against all
counties in Ontario for provincial
championship and the right to
compete in the Dominion competi-
tion at the Royal Winter Fair.
Coaching is beingg given by the
club leaders and the agricultural
representatives.
ers at the competitions held in
connection with Western Fair,.
in London. Coming .out on top
of 91 contestants in his class,
Lloyd won the gold watch
presented. by the Canadian Bank
of Comnferce. There were eight
counties represented. in the com-
petitions.
The first of the three classes
was the Western Fair quiz held
following a tour of the machinery,
hydro and department of agricul-
ture exhibits. Lloyd classed second
in this with 23 points, In judging
of livestock he tied for first place
tural quiz he classed seventh -with
with 238 points; and in the agricul-
151 points.
Others from the area who enter-
ed the competitions were Hugh
We were pleased to have been entrusted
with the contract for
CONCRETE GRAVEL
AND
PAVING OF THE ASPHALT
. ROADWAYS
Through the General Contractors, Bali Bros., g iznitad,
for the beautiful new Clinton Public School.
LAVIS CONTRACTING CO.
CLINTON, ONT. — PHONE 133-W
ate'°"�•a.,
CLINTON'S NEW PIJIBLIC SCHOOL
a
We are proud to add the New
Clinton Pu.1ic Schoolto our
ionc. list of institutional
construction achievements.
49 King g . East
11 rothers
GENERAL . CONTRACTORS
Kitchener, Ontario