Page 21 - 1914 February - To Dragma

134 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

ests herself in the community life, its workshops, factories, and
homes. A l l this knowledge she needs must have as a background
to simplify the workings and beauties of the great-world-we-live-in.
Last but not least she "verily must become as a little child."

In recent years, Madame Montessori through her Children's
Houses, has shown to all who are interested in children, what is
being done in Rome for children younger than the kindergarten age,
though indeed she goes beyond it. A limited number of graduate
kindergartners was privileged last summer in Berkeley to study
under Miss Grace Barnard, who after her return from studying in
Rome under Madame Montessori, opened the first training class
in America of Montessori Methods. We also had a practice class,
where we applied the principles and found out too truly that unless
allied with kindergarten, its educational value to the child would
be wanting. I believe Miss Barnard is now writing a book, so I
hesitate to say many things, and Madam Montessori, herself, is in
America. Still people will have Montessori and those who tutor
small children must of necessity cull out the good. One must be
trained for it—yet first—be a kindergartner.

The kindergarten was the originator of organized and directed
plays and games. Was it because of its worth here that play grad-
ually spread until we now have Playgrounds and Playground Work-
ers? A playground is a large kindergarten, indeed, we still have
the little ones with sand and clay, songs and games; the intermediate
ones, too old for this and too young for team work and the older ones
in basket ball and baseball and Camp Fires.

The Camp Fire movement started in New York through the good
offices of Doctor Gulick. Its object is to "add the power of organ-
ization and the charm of romance to health, work, and play." I t
need not be necessarily in a playground; we have them in the
churches, Y. W C. A.'s and the schools. The certificate of guardi-
anship bears this motto:

"Thou art the Guardian. I t shall be thy task
To keep the newly kindled fire alight,
To know the earth, the sea, the stars above.
Hold happiness ; seek beauty ; follow right;
Offer a friendly hand to all who ask;
And day by day,

Lead sister feet along the golden way—
The road that leads to work, and health, and love."