Mansfield University - Carontawan Yearbook (Mansfield, PA)

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Seated: Van Anden. Morris, Park, Retan, Director; Hopkins. Standing: Stalford, Grigsby, Habeger. Hutchinson, Marsh, Warren. Today we are most concerned with developing children into good citiz ens. With this in mind let us visit the Elementary Laboratory school. In the kindergarten we find children playing with large blocks, playing house, painting, or perhaps sitting in a circle singing and listening to songs. As they sing they interpret the song with bodily motions. The aim of the Kindergarten program is to develop coordination, and to teach the children to play together. In the primary department we find an activity program well under way. The subject of discussion is the dairy. The activity was suggested by the children, discussed under the direction of the teacher, the plans for development worked out by the group. All paintings, building, and other construction is done by the children. In fact they do everything concerned with the activity that it is possible for them to do. In the upper grades we visit a kind of democracy where the teacher is a limited monarch, as it were. She is there to guide, and give what- ever kind of aid necessary. Here the activity is carried out within the various classes. The class as a social group decides upon a program, plans its development, and has a large voice in appointing committees, etc. The grade votes for its class officers and any other officials needed from time to time. When a disciplinary problem within their range occurs, they solve it. Under the excellent supervision of the Laboratory School faculty, the student teacher learns how to successfullv carry out an activity 19 3 9 2S

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THE SCHOOLS rgm

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The Elementary Laboratory School. program. Such practice teaching develops her ability to prepare and manage class recitations, as well as gives her experience in putting on programs. She also acquires a wide variety of material which will be useful in later life. This program also aids the teacher in distinguishing the interests, abilities, and capacities of her pupils. By knowing these things she can build up a personality advantageous to the individual. Progress made by the child is designated by the report cards which give a complete record of his social as well as his academic development. Under this system the child is rated to see whether or not he is working up to his own ability. It can readily be seen that we are most concerned with personality development. The child centered school better prepares the student teacher to meet the educational problems which will be likely to con- front him in his teaching career. The new Elementary Laboratory Sshool, which is the last word in ex- perimental schools, promises to be beneficial to both the teacher and to the pupils. The observation rooms in this budding are equipped with facilities which permit the student teacher, supervisor, or other observer to view a class at work without the pupils ' being aware of the onlooker ' s presence. In this spacious new building the children will be instructed through the activity program, which tends to promote citizenship, cooperation, and industry as well as required knowledge. The new building will undoubtedly afford a wider range of opportunity for both the teachers and for their pupils. Carontawan 29