按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
German； Russian； or Polish Jews； and where some of them had heard no
English previous to that year；it being then May。 The joy that shone on
their faces was nothing less than radiance when the low…voiced teacher
said； 〃Would you like to tell these ladies some of your stories？〃
They told us their stories； and there was truly not one told poorly or
inexpressively； all the children had learned something of the joy of
70
… Page 71…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
creative effort。 But one little fellow stands out in my memory beyond all
the rest； yet as a type of all the rest。
Rudolph was very small； and square； and merry of eye； life was one
eagerness and expectancy to him。 He knew no English beyond that of one
school year。 But he stood staunchly in his place and told me the story of
the Little Half Chick with an abandon and bodily emphasis which left no
doubt of his sympathetic understanding of every word。 The depth of moral
reproach in his tone was quite beyond description when he said； 〃Little
Half Chick； little Half Chick； when I was in trubbul you wouldn't help
me！〃 He heartily relished that repetition； and became more dramatic each
time。
Through it all； in the tones of the tender little voice； the sidewise pose
of the neat dark head； and the occasional use of a chubby pointing finger；
one could trace a vague reflection of the teacher's manner。 It was not
strong enough to dominate at all over the child's personality； but it was
strong enough to suggest possibilities。
In different rooms； I was told The Half Chick； The Little Red Hen； The
Three Bears； The Red… Headed Woodpecker； The Fox and the Grapes； and
many other simple stories； and in every instance there was a noticeable
degree of spontaneity and command of expression。
When the reading classes were held； the influence of this work was
very visible。 It had crept into the teachers' method； as well as the children's
attitude。 The story interest was still paramount。 In the discussion； in the
teachers' remarks； and in the actual reading； there was a joyousness and an
interest in the subject… matter which totally precluded that preoccupation
with sounds and syllables so deadly to any real progress in reading。 There
was less of the mechanical in the reading than in any I had heard in my
visits to schools； but it was exceptionally accurate。
The second form of giving back which has proved a keen pleasure and
a stimulus to growth is a kind of 〃seat…work。〃 The children are allowed to
make original illustrations of the stories by cutting silhouette pictures。
It will be readily seen that no child can do this without visualising each
image very perfectly。 In the simplest and most unconscious way possible；
the small artists are developing the power of conceiving and holding the
71
… Page 72…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
concrete image of an idea given； the power which is at the bottom of all
arts of expression。
Through the kindness of Miss Sweeney； I am able to insert several of
these illustrations。 They are entirely original； and were made without any
thought of such a use as this。
The pictures and the retelling are both popular with children； but
neither is as dear to them as the third form of reproduction of which I wish
to speak。 This third kind is taken entirely on the ground of play； and no
visibly didactic element enters into it。 It consists simply of PLAYING
THE STORY。
When a good story with a simple sequence has been told； and while
the children are still athrill with the delight of it； they are told they may
play it。
〃Who would like to be Red Riding Hood？〃 says the teacher； up go the
little girls' hands； and Mary or Hannah or Gertrude is chosen。
〃Who will be the wolf？〃 Johnny or Marcus becomes the wolf。 The
kind woodchopper and the mother are also happily distributed； for in these
little dramatic companies it is an all…star cast； and no one realises any
indignity in a subordinate role。
〃Now； where shall we have little Red Riding Hood's house？ ‘Over in
that corner；' Katie？ Very well； Riding Hood shall live over there。 And
where shall the grandmother's cottage be？〃
The children decide that it must be a long distance through the wood；
half…way round the schoolroom； in fact。 The wolf selects the spot where he
will meet Red Riding Hood； and the woodchopper chooses a position from
which he can rush in at the critical moment； to save Red Riding Hood's
life。
Then； with gusto good to see； they play the game。 The teacher makes
no suggestions； each actor creates his part。 Some children prove extremely
expressive and facile； while others are limited by nature。 But each is left to
his spontaneous action。
In the course of several days several sets of children have been
allowed to try； then if any of them are notably good in the several roles；
they are given an especial privilege in that story； as was done with the
72
… Page 73…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
retelling。 When a child expresses a part badly； the teacher sometimes asks
if anyone thinks of another way to do it； from different examples offered；
the children then choose the one they prefer； this is adopted。 At no point is
the teacher apparently teaching。 She lets the audience teach itself and its
actors。
The children played a good many stories for me during my visit in
Providence。 Of them all； Red Riding Hood； The Fox and the Grapes； and
The Lion and the Mouse were most vividly done。
It will be long before the chief of the Little Red Riding Hoods fades
from my memory。 She had a dark； foreign little face； with a good deal of
darker hair tied back from it； and brown； expressive hands。 Her eyes were
so full of dancing lights that when they met mine unexpectedly it was as if
a chance reflection had dazzled me。 When she was told that she might play；
she came up for her riding hood like an embodied delight； almost dancing
as she moved。 （Her teacher used a few simple elements of stage…setting for
her stories； such as bowls for the Bears； a cape for Riding Hood； and so
on。）
The game began at once。 Riding Hood started from the rear corner of
the room； basket on arm； her mother ga