ups, are drawn by the
kindergartner on the blackboard, where they are left a second and then
erased. They are then copied from memory, and the results compared,
described, and criticised by the children. This constitutes a valuable
mental exercise, and if the tests are simple at first and made
gradually more difficult will be most valuable in increasing the
memory-span as well as in developing language power.

Abuse of the Gift.

If some of the materials used in the kindergarten are unwisely chosen,
and if this objection applies in the gifts, especially to the point,
then the kindergartner has been, and still is, unnecessarily
increasing her sum of error, for no one of the connected series of
objects (save the stick) is commonly so forced upon the child. It is
somewhat unusual for this reason to find a whole class of children
really enjoying point-work, though several conscientious and
industrious members of the group may be toiling away with praiseworthy
diligence.

Sometimes the children's feeling toward the gift goes beyond
indifference and passes into active dislike, but in either attitude of
mind the beans, lentils, etc., are likely to be mistreated.

It is not that the work with them is not in itself pleasing to the
child, but that it has been forced upon him _ad nauseam_, and that the
kindergartner has lacked interest in presenting it. His own interest
has in consequence gradually died out, and when once the fire is cold,
who shall light it again?

That there is no need of this abuse of the gift is clear enough, and
it can only come from entire lack of originality in using Froebel's
materials, or from a mental or physical inertia on the part of the
kindergartner, which causes her to prefer giving out such work as
needs neither preparation nor previous thought.

READINGS FOR THE STUDENT.

Kindergarten Guide. _Kraus-Boelte_. Pages 439-53.
The Kindergarten. _H. Goldammer_. 181-84.
A System of Child-Culture. _Emma Marwedel_. 6-8.
Hints to Teachers. _Emma Marwedel_. 49.
Decorative Design. _Frank S. Jackson_.
Art in Education. _Thos. Davidson_.
Manual of Design. _Richard Redgrave, R. A._
Exercices et Travaux pour les Enfants. _Fanny Ch. Delon_.
Manuel Pratique des Jardins d'Enfants. _J. E. Jacobs_ and
_Mme. von Marenholtz-Buelow_.

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE GIFTS

As we close the series of talks upon Froebel's gifts and look back
over the ground t