It has long been considered that children in China are less communicative and more taciturn than those in Western countries. This, in a way is not surprising, since educational methods used in the Republic of China have for a long time been characterized by teachers doing all the talking while children are never encouraged to express their views. From the time they enter kindergarten, children are constantly told what and what not to do. When their lively, innocent and playful natures have been thoroughly suppressed, they are likely to win words of praise from their elders, such as "That's a good boy!"

Recently, however, a new and enlightened method of education has been introduced which eliminates these defects.

On a Monday morning not so long ago, Mrs. Fu dressed up her daughter to take her to the Ming-teh Kindergarten near their home. Two days previously, a teacher in her daughter's school had asked Mrs. Fu if she could spare a morning each week to be a volunteer teacher. She accepted the invitation without a second thought, but now she was wondering if her decision was correct, since she had no previous teaching experience.

When she arrived at the school at 8:30 a.m., the director Liu Ching-hsia ushered her into her office, where another two mothers were busy chatting. Director Liu placed over his knees a plastic basket with colorfully illustrated pictures in it and a large cloth bag, and said: "At present, most of the kindergartens in Taiwan use traditional teaching methods. But our school is adopting a new and enlightened method which allows children to learn by playing games. We have designed many toys with educational value to help you play with the children."

She then showed the housewives pictures containing such images as the moon, motor vehicles, eggs and balls, and said: "This game is designed to give children an idea of shapes. When class begins, show these objects to the children and teach them their names. You can use pictures containing all kinds of shapes － round, rectangular, triangular, oval and square － to allow children to compare similar items. Then you can teach them how the shapes can be used in everyday life.

"In this way, children learn from actual experience rather than just memorizing. They do not simply learn shapes, but also what they represent. Eventually, the children will be able to sharpen their reasoning, association and deductive abilities."

Mrs. Fu nodded and soon forgot all her doubts. The director picked up the large bag, and said: "This is a magic bag for senior class. It contains building blocks, plastic bottles, calico, ping-pong balls, cardboard, sandpaper, feathers and other familiar objects. The game is designed to allow children to pick out objects which are identical in their materials, sizes, and shapes. We want to sharpen their powers of recognition."

Mrs. Fu was becoming impatient. "When do we start?" she asked. "Not until small group activities get under way. We need your help because the teachers are unable to take care of too many groups at a time," the director replied.

When Mrs. Fu had ended her morning class, she felt as if she had completed a grueling race. But despite her fatigue and hoarseness, she felt exhilarated and enthusiastic. She had never realized the importance of kindergarten education in terms of environment, teaching staff and systems used.

Kindergarten. As a result of rapid economic development, housewives as well as career women are tending more and more to send their children to kindergartens, leading to a mushrooming of these facilities. Statistics compiled by the Department of Education of the Taipei City Government show that the number of kindergartens has increased from 161 in 1976 to more than 280 this year. In addition, there are hundreds more which have not been registered. Sometimes it seems there is a kindergarten in every other street. Though these facilities provide great convenience for mothers, there has been increasing concern over whether the teaching facilities, staff and methods actually meet children's needs. Some parents still consider, as Mrs. Fu once did herself, that kindergartens are similar to nursery schools. As long as the teachers take good care of their children, most parents are satisfied. If children merely learn to sing some songs, write a few characters and do some sums, parents feel their money is not wasted. But such attitudes amount to a misconception.

An old Chinese proverb goes: "A person's life is decided before the age of six." Many psychologists agree with this assessment. There may be some minor adjustments as the child adapts further to its environment, but the strongest characteristics are developed at an early age.

In the past, most kindergartens adopted traditional teaching methods. Teachers stood aloof from their pupils, and usually failed to give them individual attention. Director Liu said: "The eyesight and muscles of the hand have not become fully developed before a child reaches the age of six. A lack of coordination means they cannot always write as they wish. They cannot even control the pen. If teachers make unreasonable demands, the children will feel frustrated or even doubt their own ability. This is detrimental to the development of both the children's minds and spirits."

The director pointed out, however, that sometimes parents are responsible for their children's problems. "At parents' request, some kindergartens divide classes into two groups, one in which writing is taught, and the other in which it isn't."

Fortunately, professionals in the educational field have noticed the drawbacks, such as overemphasis on memory and imitation, while the cultivation of a child's curiosity, thought processes and creativity is neglected. The 'enlightened' method of education was introduced to the Republic of China from the United States in 1970. Kindergartens affiliated to the Taipei Municipal Teachers' College and the Taiwan Provincial Taipei Junior Teachers' College were the first to adopt the experiments.

Contrasts. Classrooms adopting this type of education are laid out in an entirely different manner to those using traditional methods. In the past, a blackboard, desks, chairs, an organ or piano and a few pictures were all that was considered necessary. Now such items as dolls, building blocks, a small library and equipment for instruction in languages, mathematics, music and science are likely to be found. All kinds of materials, including cardboard, rice paper, colored paper, scissors, punchers, staplers, paste, wool, plastic ropes, rags, and sketchbooks, are provided to enhance children's creative powers.

A "free choice corner" has been set aside as well as the small group activities to accelerate children's mental development. Courses aimed at improving children's physical strength, and language ability as well as their self-reliance and powers of recognition are also provided. Teachers at the Ming-teh Kindergarten always take the children for a walk in the Youth Park, at the zoo or at nearby tennis courts. In the armed forces nursery school located on Hsinsheng South Road, such activities as crawling through a plastic tunnel, riding a bamboo horse, and climbing rope ladders are provided to allow children to develop their muscles.

Parental education. The rapid social and cultural changes brought about by the industrial age have caused the nucleus of the family to switch more toward children's education. Parents must absorb knowledge from every corner to understand children's development and to prevent a "generation gap" from being formed.

Parental education is already popular in the United States. The kindergarten affiliated to the Virginia State University, for instance, invites parents to attend school for a meeting twice a month. Each meeting focuses on a topic on which teachers and parents may exchange views. In Taiwan also, great importance is given to parental education. The most direct and effective measure has been the launching of the "mother participation" movement, under which parents are invited to help teachers at school.

The New Generation Kindergarten on Hoping East Road is one of the most successful schools established in this tradition. Each week, parents take turns to assist teachers in class and to do odd jobs. After two years, one mother said she began to realize that instead of scolding children, parents should put themselves in the children's position and then give them correct advice in a firm way. For instance, when she discovered that a child had smuggled a top from school, she said: "I know you love to play with the top. But it belongs to the school. You must have put it carelessly in your pocket. I am sure you did not do it on purpose. So please put it back where it belongs." The child immediately obeyed her instructions.

All the mothers involved in the program share the feeling that they are learning and growing up with their children. They have come to understand their children's needs, tendencies and abilities. Since they also get to know their children's classmates, they become interested in helping them to communicate. In the end ties between mothers and children become stronger.

Education is a responsibility shared by both the school and the family. The two sides must cooperate to allow education to function fully. Through the help of parents, children receive better care, and the teachers' workload is reduced. At the same time, parents learn how to bring up their children in a better way, and children feel that their parents love and care for them. Although the teachers have to spend more time preparing teaching implements and decorating the classroom, they feel that the time and effort is worthwhile.

[Picture Caption]

A new and enlightened method of education has been widely adopted by kindergartens in the Republic of China. It allows children to learn by playing games, and to achieve balanced development in ethics, wisdom, stamina and group life. Pictures 1 and 2 show children at Yu-hun Kindergarten engaged in outdoor activities.

One of the features of "enlightened" education system is the division of the classroom into several corners to give children a choice. Activities are designed to enhance children's creativity, thought processes, awareness of division of labor and spirit of cooperation. 1. Children at the armed forces nursery school doing watercolor paintings. 2. Small group discussion underway in the Ming-teh Kindergarten. 3. The IQ test corner. 4. Children building tunnels in the building blocks corner, and 5. Planting trees in the sandbox corner. 6. A girl makes up to play mother.

1. Children use colored paper and pens to draw pictures, and 2. Act out the different roles in a family in preparation for the entertainment of guests in the doll's corner. 3. 4. Courses aimed at improving children's physical strength such as the game of balloon umbrella, riding a bamboo horse and calisthenics on the mattress are provided in the Yu-hun and armed forces nursery schools.

Through the help of parents in kindergarten education, children receive better care, and the teachers' workload is reduced. At the same time, ties between mothers and children become stronger. Pictures show children in the New Generation Kindergarten playing games and learning to identify shapes with some of the volunteer mother-teachers.

show children at Yu-hun Kindergarten engaged in outdoor activities.

Children at the armed forces nursery school doing watercolor paintings.

Small group discussion underway in the Ming-teh Kindergarten.

The IQ test corner.

Children building tunnels in the building blocks corner, and.

Planting trees in the sandbox corner.

A girl makes up to play mother.

Children use colored paper and pens to draw pictures, and.

Act out the different roles in a family in preparation for the entertainment of guests in the doll's corner.

Courses aimed at improving children's physical strength such as the game of balloon umbrella, riding a bamboo horse and calisthenics on the mattress are provided in the Yu-hun and armed forces nursery schools.

Courses aimed at improving children's physical strength such as the game of balloon umbrella, riding a bamboo horse and calisthenics on the mattress are provided in the Yu-hun and armed forces nursery schools.

Through the help of parents in kindergarten education, children receive better care, and the teachers' workload is reduced. At the same time, ties between mothers and children become stronger. Pictures show children in the New Generation Kindergarten playing games and learning to identify shapes with some of the volunteer mother-teachers.

Through the help of parents in kindergarten education, children receive better care, and the teachers' workload is reduced. At the same time, ties between mothers and children become stronger. Pictures show children in the New Generation Kindergarten playing games and learning to identify shapes with some of the volunteer mother-teachers.

Through the help of parents in kindergarten education, children receive better care, and the teachers' workload is reduced. At the same time, ties between mothers and children become stronger. Pictures show children in the New Generation Kindergarten playing games and learning to identify shapes with some of the volunteer mother-teachers.