|
|
The Parents' ReviewA Monthly Magazine of Home-Training and Culture"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." ______________________________________ P.N.E.U. Notes.Volume 14, 1903, pgs. 316-320 Edited by Miss F. Noël Armfield. Sec., 26, Victoria Street, S.W. To whom all Hon. Local Secs. are requested to send reports of all matters of interest connected with their branches, also 6 copies of any prospectuses or other papers they may print. N.B.--Kindly write on one side of the paper only. New Branches. The Executive Committee has been approached with a view to starting Branches in the following places:-- Readers of the Parents' Review living in these districts, or having friends there, are asked to communicate with Miss Armfield, 26, Victoria Street, S. W. _____ Miss Armfield much regrets that lack of space compels her to hold over till next month the reports of Brondesbury, Glasgow, Harrow, Hyde Park, Ipswich and Winchester. _____ Branches of the P.N.E.U. will shortly be opened at Bristol and Croydon. Will members having friends in Bristol kindly communicate with Mrs. Daniel, Dunelm, 27, Dunleaze Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol. Miss Armfield 26, Victoria Street, S. W., will be glad to receive the names of people, in or around Croydon, likely to be interested in the formation of a Branch. Bournemouth and Boscombe.--The paper read to the members of the P.N.E.U. at Bournemouth, on Feb. 23rd, by Miss Buckton (vice-principal of Sesame House), was entitled, "How to make children truly happy." Miss Buckton began her address by saying that she meant to refer to young children only, under the age of seen or eight years, and dwelt on the importance (as insisted on by Froebel) of the early, unconscious years, from infancy, of a child's life, during which the habits and attitude of mind are largely formed. Some parents (anxious to do their best) seem to think they have done everything in providing for the physical well-being of their children; but the longings of the child's mind are at the same time left quite unsatisfied, its little questions unanswered, or, worse still, answered in an unsympathetic way, giving, perhaps, a false outlook on life. Again, some parents think to make their children happy by supplying them with plenty of toys; instead of which, what the child really needs is, not ready-made toys, but material for self-expression and the working out of his own imagination and originality. Here we see the great value of bricks (of the right kind), of clay, blackboard and chalk, blunt scissors and paper, and even (with an old smock!) a little water might be sometimes allowed; a few simple tools, with a low table to work at, should also be provided; and out of doors in fine weather the sand heap and the garden. Pictures have a strong moral influence on children, and therefore only good pictures should be allowed in the nursery. it is also convenient to have a frame in which pictures can easily be changed according to the subject most occupying the children's mind at the time. Scope must be given for the child's sense of responsibility (care of plants, animals, daily duties, etc.), for the desire, deep-planted in every child, to feel himself one of the community, to take his share in little duties of the daily domestic life of the home, affecting other people's lives as well as his own; for the child's need to love and to work is great in proportion to the care and love spent upon him, and his own dependence on others. Finchley.--By kind permission of Mrs. Blake Odgers, our March meeting was held at "Thefarth," when Mr. J. Lewis Paton, of University College School, gave an address on "Boys and Newspapers," Dr. McClure in the chair. The subject drew a large audience, and interesting discussion followed.--In May we have been promised an address by Mr. de Burgh, on "Plato's Ideals of Education." This will be the last meeting of the session. Lewes.--The last lecture of the season took place on March 4th, when Mrs. Clement Parsons gave an interesting address on "The Why's and Wherefore's of the Parents' Union." The chair was kindly taken by the Headmaster of the Lewes Grammar School, the Rev. E. Hodgson, in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Dow. There was a good audience. Reading.--On Tuesday, Feb. 10th, Mr. Hastings Gilford, F.R.G.S., gave the members an address at the Abbey Hall, on "Men and Animals of 10,000 years ago." There were about 70 present. Commencing with some illustrations to give the idea of lapse of time and referring to the probably beginning of the earth as a whole, he demonstrated that the period of which he was to speak was comparatively recent. So far as we judge from remains which had been preserved to us, there had been very little alteration in the physical structure of animals since that time. Evidence had come down to us from the drawings in outline, on fragments of bone, that man was acquainted with those kinds of animals which, if not found in this country now, are still living in other parts of the world, or have done so in historical times. From the excellent copies of those drawings which the lecturer sketched on the board, the children had no difficulty in recognising any of the creatures portrayed, which included--tapir, horse, elk, reindeer, pike and eel. Several specimens of rough and polished stone implements and some bronze hatchets were exhibited, and the method of use explained by comparison with similar tools in used among savages at the present day. At the close of the lecture a very hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. Gilford on behalf of those present, by the Rev. A. H. D. Allan, M.A. Scarborough.--On Feb. 19th, the fourth meeting of the session was held at the house of Dr. and Mrs. Godfrey. About 40 members assembled to hear one of the most delightful papers upon "Teaching poetry to children." The lecturer, Mrs. Simpson (Leeds), pleaded for the culture of poetry in our own lives and deplored the way in which this lovely art is set aside. She quoted from many well-known poets, and has a strong theory that all children will love poetry if taught by those who truly love it themselves. A discussion followed the paper.--On March 12th, a representative gathering of the members of the branch met at Queen Margaret's School, where Miss Body (head mistress) acted as hostess, and then gave a most interesting address on "What really matters," or "Educational values in the education of girls." Miss Body spoke with great earnestness to parents, first pointing out that the present school curriculum was far too full. She pleaded for more time to inform her pupils upon subjects which would open channels for the future forming of character--the study of great men, &c. she spoke strongly of the loss of time spent during school days in learning foreign languages, when the time from 18 to 21 might so well be filled with special study of language, music, and arts. Finally, she insisted that what really matters most in the education of our girls is character training, that a girl should be taught to be truthful and conscientious, honourable, purposeful, unselfish, reliable. Wakefield and District.--Mrs. Sieveking, of Harrow, gave an address to this branch, on Feb. 23rd, on "How to recognise early tendencies in the child and check or develop them." She laid very great stress on the importance of checking little faults early in life, and not waiting for the child to grow out of them. Instead of doing this the "little faults" would probably become grave sins later in life. It was a most interesting paper, and unfortunately, owing to the rough nature of the weather that evening, the attendance was very small. The next lecture will be on March 26th, on "Personality in Children," by the Rev. J. G. Simpson, principal of the Leeds Clergy School. _____ List of Books Added to the P.N.E.U. Library Book. - - - Author. - - - Postage. Religion. Education. Hygiene and Physiology. Psychology and Ethics Natural Science. Miscellaneous. *Suitable for children to read or to have read to them. _____ The following books are no longer in the Library:--Human Physiology, Republic of Childhood, Fröbel's Gifts, Saltaire Kindergarten Games, Ten Minutes Lessons in Sight Singing, Chronological Maps, Historical Reader, History of London, Exercises in English Word Formation, Exercises in the Study of French, Les Confessions, The Children, Golden Boat Songs, Circular Tablet, Recitations for Young Children Moral Training, Building of the Intellect, Essays on Character, Health, Work and Play, Hygience of Childhood and Youth, Study of French. Proofread by LNL, Feb. 2024  |
| Top | Copyright © 2002-2021 AmblesideOnline. All rights reserved. Use of these resources subject to the terms of our License Agreement. | Home |