Our kindergarten is the place where the children feel perfectly free to express their inner selves; and this they do in many different ways. We have a splendid opportunity of studying the individuality of each child. The teacher, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, first states a thought, then carefully watches each little one as he gives expression to that thought. It may be in building, free-hand cutting, at the sand table, or molding in clay.
Clay-day, as the children call it, is always hailed with delight, and it is interesting indeed to watch them. Each child is supplied with a molding board; and as the boards are passed, you will hear the little ones exclaim, “Oh, clay, clay! we are going to have clay!” And when each one has been helped to a liberal slice, the smiles seem to broaden, and should you ask them to sing, “Let a Little Sunshine In,” I am sure it would be sung from the heart. To the smaller children we usually give a suggestion, but allow the older ones to choose163for themselves. It is now very easy to see where a child’s mind is, and what he thinks.
Here is a picture of a little boy and some of his modeling. It is the working out of his own ideas. We have been studying about Abraham and Isaac. If you will notice the picture closely, you will be able, I think, with the help of the little gentleman himself, to read the story. I repeat, as nearly as possible, his own words as I heard him telling one of the teachers. “This [pointing to the left hand lower corner] is Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was going to offer him for a sacrifice, but as he raised his hand to take his life, his arm grew stiff, and he heard a voice that said, ‘Abraham don’t lay your hand on the lad to harm him.’ And this [pointing to the left] is the thicket where Abraham caught the lamb to offer instead of his son. This man is Eliezer. Abraham sent him away off to Mesopotamia to his brother’s house, to get a wife for Isaac. These are his camels. This is the trough where they kneeled down to drink, and this is the well where Eliezer had prayed to God that if there was a young woman there who should be Isaac’s wife, she might be kind and polite, and give him a drink. And just as he finished praying, he saw Rebekah, and asked her for a drink. She took down her pitcher, and gave it to him, and afterward she said she would draw water for the camels, too. This woman is Rebekah and this man is Eliezer. This [pointing to the left of the camels] is the shrub where Hagar laid Ishmael when she thought he was going to die; and this is the bottle they carried their water in. The angel told her not to fear, for he had heard her voice, but to open her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she saw a well of water. Then she gave Ishmael a drink and he grew better.”
Do you think this little boy, after having pictured the story in his mind, and then actually worked out his own imagination, will ever forget it? This child of seven knows better how to express himself than many grown boys and girls.
