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The Huron Expositor, 1953-09-25, Page 11• • • • Matte SXPTElVIBRIO,,1953 A,A101$1? History of By S. I. McLEAN Not long ago, some one said to me; "Why don't you write t the story of the Kindergarten in Seaforth." So here I am trying to remember all the things that might be of interest during the 41 years of my teaching life. I must shy you will not be troubled with many dates, as I never could remember them, and my story may be a bit mixed at times, but you will have it as 1 can remember. • However, therp is one date I 1 do remember, and that is June 1, 1910, when the Seaforth Kinder- garten was opened. My kindergarten experience be- gan when a friend' in Stratford op- ened a private kindergarten in, a • vacant room in our school and ask- ed me to be her assistant. When Miss Bennoch was given a positiOn on the Stratford school staff, she left ,Seaforth much to the regret of the parents whose cbildren had been privileged to he under her care -and training. 'Acting on Miss Bennoch's advice and my own introduction to the wonders and 'beauty of the kinder- garten, I decided to take the two years of training. I spent one year in the Stratfordkindergarten as an assistant. It was a busy year, I can assure you, as I had not only , my day work, but all the practical work I had to prepare for inspec- tion before I could get my certifi- cate. I obtained my assistant's cer- tificate, though I went to that ex- amination in London in fear and trembling. • Tell Children of the Queen Next year I went to Normal School. in Toronto. There I was in- troduced to greater possibilities of, he kindergarten. We had several lectures every week, besides our class work, and 1 had to write an essay on each lecture. •It was a thrill and also a surprise wthen I would get 'Good' on any of Mine. • Then there were the songs, games and stories that gave us our physi- cal as well as mental training. On the whole it was a wonderful year, and as I have often said, I know of no course any girl could take • tat would be broader and more beneficial than that of the Kinder- garten. After getting these certifi- ,.,fp,..0prpoenfi,tps.PropirAmmk:, tipt TFJE *IRON XIN)SITOR T'AQE THREE Seaforth Kindergarten Traced From 1910 cates I felt I was well equipped to make my way in .the world if the occasiok demanded. I expected to settle down at home, but that was interrupted by an eleven -months' stay in England. I lived with my brother, who was. on the staff of The Financial Times, just seven miles from the centre of Old London. It was such a joy to roamabout the streets, visit the places of historical fame and feel one was in the hub of the universe. This is not a history of my visit in England, 'but I do want to say that I saw Queen Victoria the last time she was in London. She had come up from Windsor to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. I was fortunate in getting a ohair in a corner of Hyde Park close to the road down which the royal car- riage came. When we had our talk about Victoria Day, I could tell' the children I had seen the Queen, and how the eyes sparkled as they heard the story. I also saw at close range the funeral procession of Queen Victoria, that pageant of all the thistorical world with its pomp and' nobility of every cotintrY. Open Kindergarten June 1, 1910 A month in Cambridge, Mass., within walking dista ce of Harvard i Yard, as well as vi iting all the historical places in oston, was an- other experience. It gave me a thrill to see in 0 d Concord...the homes of Louise Alcott, Emerson and Hawthorne. Not long before I closed teaching a little la,d brought a star fish to the kindergarten. The children were amazed when I told them I had' seen the fish alive in little pools up on the rocks on the Atlantic coast. In May, 1910, the School Board engaged me to teach in the kinder- garten that was to open June I. The primary •room, at that time, taught by MISE3 Bethune, was very crowded, so I was given children of the junior Class. Prior to the open- ing of the kindergarten I spent some days in Stratford kin.dergar- ten that I might again live its life and work. With this experience and .muoh advice and Material, patterns, songs, games, stories and so on, I began my work in the Kindergar- ten of 'Seaforth. At that time there was a kindergarten in Wing - Editor's Note. -7 -The following in 1911, William Aanent retired and article, outlining the early his. John Beattie was elected in Ms tory of the kindergarten 'In place. The teachers were J. T. Seaforth Public School, was Curtis,. principal; Misses Mackay, first written two years ago by Bethune, Govenlock, Somerville and Miss S. I. McLean following Livens. The latter resigned in 1911 her retirement after 41 years in and Miss Gillespie took her place. charge of Kindergarten here. Mr. Robb, I believe, was the Inspec- We believe the information and „tor, but I only had one short visit Incidents contained In Miss from him. Then came Dr. J. M. McLean's letter will find spe- Field, and now the present Inspec- cial interest at the time of the tor, Mr. J. H. Kinkead. To these new Public School's opening. Inspectors I can .give my. thanks and appreciation. Always were fair and syanpathetic and ready to ham, but it was discontinued soon give advlce and, encouragement to after, owing to lack of school room. me in my work: It was a great For many years Goderich and' Sea- sorrow that -Dr. Field, who had en - forth had the only kindergartens in deared himself to all the tsaohers Huron County; now the Education- al Department has. decreed all town schools should' have a kinder- garten. Many Gales to Weather Our school had many gales to weather in the early. years. Some time one would hear, "What good is that kindergart,en? 11 did not 'have one in my day and got along all right without it." "They don't learn anything; no A.B.C.'s and no fig- ures." All these remarks were so empty because the people did not knOw what the kindergarten really was, nor what it could do for little children. However, before any drastic efforts could be made contrary to the kindergarten, some parent would speak up; the Board would continue to tarry on, and the Inspector Would send in a good re- port. I shall always remember one staunch friend I had. He had brougiht his granddaughter to the kindergarten, and, atter attended an 'open day'. His remark was: "I had no idea the kindergarten was such a fine place for little children." He not only made this remark, but was always a champion in the cause of the kindergarten when- ever he heard any adverse criti- cism. Early Beard Members As far as I can learn from any records of the kindergarten, the following were on the Board at the time it was opened: Messrs. J. H. Reid, Wm. 'Crioh, Wm. Ament, W. D. McLean, A. D. Sutherland and John Rankin, secretary. However, in the inspectorate, was given so few years in which to enjoy his retirement. Though I speak of the kindergar- ten as a comprehensive and in- tensive course with its universal principles and demands in time, patience and general knowledge, it is none the leas an interesting one. When one takes the seasons as they come and suits with them the work, play and stories and all in. the curriculum to the needs and ability of the child, there is n4 dull moment for the teacher, and tb'Qjgii 'there is research, time and work to be put into the preparation, it is none the less enjoyable. Had Old Grand Plano And now for that first day in the Kindergarten, When I opened the door of the room, I thought how bare were the walls and windows. The floor was new and waxed; the little tables and chairs were ready for the little people, and—a grand piano (not a new one) was over at one side of the room. That piano has long since been changed for an upright one, that certainly gives more space in the kindergarten. I expect there will be a. brand new piano in the new school. The most conspicuous thing for me was a big box stove that held a huge 'block of wood. That stove did give out a good heat, except in the far cor- ners of the room and the floor. I never asked the children if their feet were cold, and far be it from me to tell them mine were freez- ing some days. 1 never could un- derstand why the news floor that was put in was not put oyer the old one, However, when we got sash curtains on the windows and pictures on the wall, we Mt quite dressed up. Often when I bod, visit* ed some of the modern schools and looked in on there kindergartens,. I was a bit jealous. One day a man, who was working outside and who had spent his schooldays In a coun- try schoolhouse, looked in the door and said, "What a nice room; no wonder the children love to come here!" 1 felt then that it was UR to me to make the most of what we had and not judge by coma* SOIL Little Girl With No Book I don't remember what we did that first day, but there was so much to do and discover that the time passed too quickly. So .the days went and in time our first month was over. Next term I had a new class of 32 children, as the others had been promoted. So many incidents come to my mind I hardly know what to tell you. Of course they will, all come in somewhat of a haphazard way, as I can't remember in what ear they happened. I was sur- prised and a bit horrified one day, to learn that a little girl had never heard the story of "The Three Bears." How her eyes light- ened up as she listened, and when 1 was through she said, "Tell It again.', At one time we had a fam- ily whose uncle's life work was spent in one of the large book pub. Rating houses in New York, Nero turally the children were remem- bered on birthdays and 'Christmas with •books. Such books! Beauti- ful illustrations, good print and paper, and all of -the stories that children love. We in the kinder- garten let the children bring their books to school, so these and oth- ers were always shown, at storg time. One day I noticed a little girl was looking rather longingly at one of the books, so I asked it she would like to bring one of hers some day. I have never forgotten her answer, "I have no book.", Well, one day this little girl came to me and said, "Miss McLean, I (Continued on Page 6) Pounder Bros. Are Proud To Have Been Chosen As the GENERAL CONTRACTORS For the Building of the New SEAFORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL x It was indeed a pleasure to have worked with the School Board and the Architects, Shore and Moffat, in building the New Modern Nine -Room School. POUNDER BROS. STRATFORD, ONTARIO A .