A Day at the Merrill-Palmer School Part 2
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “A Day at the Merrill-Palmer School.” Two little girls buttoning their coats, woman sitting nearby. “The school garage.” Tricycles and wagons parked outside building. “Vigorous outdoor play -- makes for healthful living.” Mother walking young child up walk to school - man, woman, and children getting out of chauffeur driven car. “No lagging school boy steps.” Man and woman walking children up walk toward school - opening door of school. “She can open the door herself and mother lets her.” “Everything tidy before we have our ‘news.’” Girl with whisk broom and dust pan sweeping under table. “All ready.” Children sitting in circle on floor, teacher on small chair. “Who has ‘news’ to show us today?” Two children raising hands - girl walking up to teacher and showing her something. “Look at the lovely flowers Jean has brought!” Close-up of children and teacher - another girl showing teacher a doll. “Can Sally’s little man stand?” Girl standing up small doll - close-up of children - boy bringing truck to teacher. “Billy’s dump truck.” Boy placing truck on floor - close-up of children. “Andrew’s Indian play suit.” Teacher holding up costume. “What shall we play today?” Teachers and children walking in circle around girl in the middle. “‘Fair Rosie lived in a tall tower.’” Children and teachers holding arms over heads. “‘A wicked fairy casts a spell.’” Boy in witch’s hat pretending to cast a spell, girl in center falling down. “‘Fair Rosie slept for a hundred years.’” Girl lying down in circle. “‘A great big forest grew around.” Children holding arms over heads. “‘A gallant prince came galloping by.’” Boy walking around circle. “‘He took her hand to wake her up.’” Boy pulling girl up. “‘And everyone is happy now.’” “Gathering for the story hour.” Children sitting on floor in front of teacher. “‘There was an old woman who rode on a broom With a high gee ho gee humble!’” Picture of woman riding broom - men trying to beat her - teacher showing picture to children. “‘She took her old cat behind for a groom, With a bimble, bamble, bumble!’” Picture of woman and cat riding broom over town - teacher showing picture to children. “Clearing away after each activity is part of the regular routine.” Children rolling up mats from floor. “Part Three will follow immediately.” Woman looking in boy’s mouth and ears, man standing nearby, woman untying boy’s shirt, looking at his chest, back, and neck, retying shirt. “‘Goodbye, Daddy.’” Children walking down steps from building. “‘Here’s my locker -- off with my hat and coat.’” Little girl finding locker with tag, taking off coat, hanging it up. “Daddy is in a hurry and his small son misses a chance to do it by himself.” Father and son walking up to door, father opening door. “Daddy waits until the nurse finds no signs of an infection. This is done every day to all in school.” Nurse examining child. “Handing in the report from home.” View of medical and diet report - children and teachers sitting at small tables - teacher and boy at table, boy stacking blocks, teacher writing. “Goodbye, Daddy!” Boy hugging father, nurse and other children looking on - girl at table making clay man, holding man up. “‘Look what I made.’” Displaying clay man - children sitting at table doing various activities, teacher in background supervising work. “Clay modeling [sic], an absorbing interest.” Children and teacher sitting at table working with clay - girl making clay man. “‘It needs some more clay.’” “Then comes ears, throat and teeth.” “And now after the physical and mental examinations life in the nursery school begins.” View of house on residential street with car parked at curb. “Spinach for the baby.” Children sitting in rocking chairs amid toys and blocks. “Weaving mats for mother.” Teacher showing boy how to weave mats, boy weaving. [1928]
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