Now all this life of infancy was closely studied by Froebel, and he perceived the need for something pertaining to education which would cover the period that elapses between infancy and the sixth year of childhood. That those years to both rich and poor children have been and are filled with weariness and sorrow none can deny. Unless we reach down to the child and enter into its life much of it must be a tearful blank. But Froebel's gifts have sent a ripple of merry, childish laughter through the world. Bright eyes dance,-tongues, hands, and feet unite in song, work, and play, and demonstrate his farreaching wisdom. One of the first instincts of a child is to clasp something in its hand. It would naturally prefer something round and soft. A soft ball fulfills this requirement, and one finds that the ball is the oldest of playthings. There is much that can be done with it. So, therefore, Froebel chooses it for his first gift. As the various objects selected by him for instruction were absolutely given by Froebel to the children he taught, he properly designated them as gifts. The name has been happily retained, though the custom has been discontinued for practical reasons. The ball possesses form, simple and distinct. It is easily held. The infant's fascinated gaze into a flame or light indicates an instinctive love for brightness or color. Thus a red ball possesses a special charm. This love of color is utilized. The first gift includes six soft balls, made of the primary and secondary colors, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple. There is also in the ball the possibility of motion. In the games connected with it the child exercises the muscles of his body. Also in rolling and throwing the ball the eye marks the direction in which this favorite plaything is to go. And in this way he aims to accomplish a result. He has a purpose. Thoroughly unconscious of the philosophy of the act, yet it is a first lesson in practical effort toward result. Furthermore he acts in concert with others. There is the inspiration of united action with children of the same age. Music gives its crowning charm, and the child rhythmically describes and acts out the deeper significance that lies in the balls. Spontaneity is not sacrificed because the kindergartner alone applies its philosophy and the facile child simply responds to the method. The knowledge of colors is also developed, and no one can fail to perceive its importance. Not only does it possess an æsthetic value, but a most practical one, as instanced in the frightful possibilities that may result from an uncertainty in detecting green from blue lights. And it is a well established fact that the color sense must be cultivated in some children. Fine sense of color has given to the world its famous paintings. The knowledge of form alone would not make the canvas tell its complete story. ECLECTIC EDUCATIONAL SERIES. MESSRS. VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & CO.'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. Palmer's Science of Education. By mail, $1.17. The Science of Education, designed as a Text-book for Teachers. By FRANCIS B. PALMER, Ph.D., Principal of State Normal School, Fredonia, N.Y. 12mo, 340 pp. The main lines of thought, and the form of the work as a Science of Education are new, as shown by the following For recording the teacher's monthly estimates of the fidelity and success of pupils, on the plan now used in the Cincinnati Schools. Cap Folio, 24 pages. This valuable aid enables the teacher to keep, after one entry of the pupil's name, estimates of the standing of that pupil for an entire year. These estimates are based on the success with which the pupils do assigned work, and also on their success in meeting the various oral and written tests which are properly made an element of teaching. VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG, & CO., Publishers, 187 Walnut St., Cincinnati ; 28 Bond St., New York. 0. F. STEARNS, N. E. Agent, 8 Hawley St., Boston. Therefore in the six pretty balls that Froebel has given to his children the embryonic artist, engineer, or pilot, receives his first lessons, which may eventually lead to fame or valuable exactness. Each gift has its occupation, which necessitates outward expression of inward perception. Beads of different colors are placed before the child, and he is asked to select and string one red bead. When the child shows that he thoroughly understands which is a red bead he is asked to select a blue bead. He perceives a contrast of color. Froebel's law of contrast is constantly reiterated. We all realize that the strongest impression is received from contrast. For instance the idea of darkness becomes real when we conceive of light, joy when we think of sorrow, black when we think of white. And there is the law of connection. There are all the intermediate shades to be discovered between black and white. There are all the gradations of joy and sorrow, darkness and light. RICHLY REWARDED are those who read this and then act; they will find honorable employment that will not take them from their homes and families. The profits are large and sure for every industrious] person; many have made and are now making several hundred dollars a month. It is easy for any one to make $5.00 and upwards per day, who is willing to work. Either sex, young or old; capital not needed; we start you. Everything new. No special ability required; you, reader, can do it as well as any one. Write to us at once for full particulars, which we mail free. Address Stinson & Co., Portland, Me. THREE new books of special interest to those interested in kindergarten work have just been published. A book of Songs, Games, and Rhymes, with admirable notes and suggestions by Mrs. Eudora L. Hailmann, of La Porte, Ind., published by Milton Bradley Company, Springfield, Mass.; Reminiscences of Friedrich Froebel, by Baroness B. Von Marenholz-Bülow, translated by Mrs. Horace Mann, with a sketch of the life of Froebel by Emily Shirreff, published by Lee & Shepard, Boston; price, $1.50; and a work on Kindergarten Methods, from the pen of Prof. W. N. Hailmann, superintendent of schools of La Porte, Ind., published by A. S. Barnes & Co., New York; price, 75 cents. The latter work embraces a complete and methodical presentation of the use of kindergarten material, aided by copious and comprehensive illustrations and diagrams. Professor Hailmann is a recognized authority on kindergarten work, and his practical hand-book will be found to be one of the most valuable aids ever furnished on this interesting subject. CATARRH CURED. A clergyman, after years of suffering from that loathsome disease, Catarrh, and vainly trying every known remedy, at last found a prescription which completely cured and saved him from death. Any sufferer from this dreadful disease, sending a self addressed stamped envelope to Prof. J. A. Lawrence, 212 East 9th St., New York, will receive the recipe free of charge. THE FOLDING SAWING MACHINE, is highly recommended to us as truly a triumph of mechanical genius, and, for rapid and satisfactory work, easy adjustment, and ready portability, its equal appears never to have been invented. The firm, Folding Sawing Machine Co., 303 to 311 South Canal Street, Chicago, Ill., offer them at reasonable rates. Send for their circular. See their advertisement in another column. HOW TO MARKET MANUSCRIPT. If you have any descriptive articles, poems, sketches, short stories, or pen-and-ink drawings that you wish published, send a 2-cent stamp to the National Literary and News Bureau, New York, for circular explaining how, and on what terms, they will sell them for you. Parker's Arithmetical Charts. Monroe's Primary Reading Charts. By COL. FRANCIS W. PARKER. These Charts are the only Arithmetical Charts published. They present the latest and best methods of teaching beginners in arithmetic, and wherever used will render unnecessary the ordinary text-books in Primary Arithmetic, thus saving both time and expense. These Charts have recently been revised, and their number has been increased. Full and Explicit Directions are given on the margin of the Charts, so that the most inexperienced teacher may understand how to use them. The Figures and Type were made expressly for these charts, and are so distinct and clear that they can readily be seen from any part of the class-room. We have received many testimonials from prominent educators in favor of these Charts, but their best recommendation is the fact that the first edition was exhausted within a few weeks of its publication. They have already been adopted in many of the leading educational centers, and the general testimony is, "They have proved to be the best investment we have ever made for our schools." A Treasure for Primary Teachers. The task of teaching and learning to read is made easy by the use of these Charts. These were the Pioneer Charts for teaching reading to beginners. They follow a definite plan, which has never been approached by those who have attempted to imitate it. The size of the Chart and the number of Charts have lately been increased. Beautifully engraved Script Lessons have been added. The Charts may be used as an introduction to any series of reading-books. Full and Explicit Directions are given on the margin of the Charts, so that the most inexperienced teacher may understand how to use them. It is almost impossible for the child to read the chart lessons in the usual humdrum style. The thoughts are so natural, and their expressions so easy that they almost " say themselves" in a sprightly, animated tone such as should alone be permitted in the reading of little children. Illustrated circulars sent free. Special rates to teachers and school officers. Correspondence solicited. Prang Educational Co., CHERMERHORN'S Teachers' Agency. Publishers and Dealers in Drawing and Artists' Materials, PUBLISHERS OF PRANG'S AMERICAN TEXT-BOOKS OF ART EDUCATION. S Oldest and best known in U. S. Estab. 1855. 7 East 14th St., N. Y. For larger salaries or change of location address Teachers' Co-Operative Association. A System of Drawing used in the leading Cities of the country. This system has a wider 170 State Street, Chicago; Orville Brewer, adoption than all other systems united. PRANG'S NATURAL HISTORY SERIES FOR SCHOOLS. Intended to be used as Aids for Object-teaching. PRANG'S NATURAL HISTORY SERIES FOR CHILDREN. Intended to be used for Supplementary Reading. PRANG'S TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS. Splendidly illustrated for Object-teaching. PRANG'S COLOR CHART. Manager. FOR REGISTRATION. Unequaled NO FEE advantages for competent teach ers who want actual service. R. E. AVERY. American School Bureau. 2 West 14th St., N. Y. The New England Bureau of Education. Now is the time to register for Primary, Intermediate, and Grammar Schools. Circulars and form of application free. Address, HIRAM ORCUTT, Manager, 3 Somerset St., Boston, Mass. For Teaching Color in Primary Schools. (Adopted by Boston School Board.) KINDERGARTEN andSchool Supplies. IDEA ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1887, the first number of a series of help manuals for teachers was issued from THE SUPPLEMENT Press, Boston. This number is entitled Practical Grammar, and it contains over five Patterns in Drawing; Mailed for 25 cents. hundred common-sense exercises, not questions, but exercises novel, 150 Beautiful Blackboard sensible, practical, and presenting work of an entirely new character for all grades. Ten thousand teachers have already handled this book. A prominent High School teacher writes: "With your exercises, grammar is an entirely new subject. My pupils are perfectly delighted. I never handled a book which gave me more genuine satisfaction.' ON OCTOBER 1 the second number was issued. It is a complete MANUAL OF CORRESPONDENCE for schools and colleges, and is uniform, in style and binding, with the Grammar. If you want to please your pupils, by giving them two or three lessons a week in correspondence, by all means buy this book. It is without exception the best educational help issued this year. We have stepped right out of the ruts and old beaten paths, and are determined to give the teachers of America a neatly bound bundle of fresh ideas on the first day of each month. Those who know anything of the character of our former publications know that we can do it. The books for NOVEMBER and DECEMBER will startle some of the good old textbook publishers of the great cities. They will be out on time. Don't miss them. Prices: Each number is published in a very attractive heavy-paper cover at 25c. per copy, and in neat cloth binding at 50e. per copy. Sample pages free. Don't ask for free copies. HOW TO GET THESE BOOKS. The yearly subscription price of the paper edition (nine numbers) is $1.50, and the cloth, $3.00. When five names reach us together, the prices are reduced to $1.00 and $2.20 a year, and to the sender of a $5.00 club we mail a free copy of either The New Arithmetic or Eaton's 100 Lessons in Business; and to the sender of an $11.00 club we mail both books. This is a special offer. Back numbers supplied. Address, THE SUPPLEMENT COMPANY, 50 Bromfield Street, Boston, Mass. THE NEW ARITHMETIC, prepared by 300 prominent educators of all English-speaking countries, contains more new ideas on this subject than all other arithmetics combined. Price, $1.00. EATON'S 100 LESSONS IN BUSINESS is a new work. Mr. Seymour Eaton, its author, is editor of The Supplement Series. Hundreds of teachers are making daily use of these lessons in their classes. Price, $1.00. ALWAYS ASK FOR ESTERBROOK'S CELEBRATED STEEL PENS: PENS SCHOOL NUMBERS: 333, 444, 128, 105, 135, 048. For Sale by all Stationers. The Esterbrook Steel Pen Co., 26 John Street, New York, New Sixth Sheet, with instructions on the Sheet; alone, 10 cents. The Essentials of Physiology, with Drawings; book, 44 pages, 30 cents. I teach Book-Keeping by Corre spondence, Write for Plan. W. N. HULL, No. 048 ESTERBROOKED. FALCON PEN. These pens are unsurpassed in quality of material, finish of points, easy action and durability. Inclose six cents, and send for sample card, containing one of each number. POTTER, KNIGHT, AINSWORTH & CO. All three books to one address for 75 cents. A GYMNASTICS FOR THE SCHOOLROOM. With Music and Songs. By Annie Chase. Cloth, price, 30 cents. These lessons, with accompanying music and songs, have been prepared for the use of pupils in the lower grades. Each lesson is simple, practical, and complete in itself. Care has been taken to omit all positions liable to harm the most delicate child. EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 50 BROMFIELD STREET, BOSTON. 87 NOV. 1 2 3 4 5 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 27 28 29 30. DIXON'S AMERICAN CRAPHITE PENCILS. A perfect pencil should be strong, smooth, black, soft, uniform, and reliable, hold its point well in wear, and be pleasant to use; the mark should disappear entirely under a good rubber, leaving the paper clean. All of these qualities we have obtained in our pencils beyond any. thing heretofore produced. Our hard grades can be sharpened to a needle-point, and are capable of finer lines than any other pencils. We took two gold medals at the Paris Exposition, 1878, where we exhibited a case of pencils containing 1106 kinds, no two alike. If your stationer does not keep them, mention AMERICAN TEACHER and send 16 cts. for samples worth double the money. JOS. DIXON CRUCIBLE CO., Jersey City, N. J. A NEW BOOK OF EXAMPLES IN ARITHMETIC. NOW READY, Contains over three thousand five hundred carefully graded problems on every subject of Arithmetic. Numerous review questions and exercises. The work is not simply a teacher's desk-book, but is intended to be placed in the hands of the pupil. It will be found invaluable as a drill-book. With or without answers. Price 60 cents. Discount to Schools. E. H. BUTLER & CO., Publishers, New England Agency, 17 & 19 So. Sixth St., PHILADELPHIA, PA. WM. H. HOCKADAY, 75 Hawley Street, Boston, Mass. Unheard of Premiums for Work. The best magazines in the world for the young of all ages-five of them (see below). The best things to be got in this part of the world for the money—about three-hundred of them (see a sample or, two below). The things are paid to those who get subscribers. The unheard of part is the rate. It is more than generous. Here are the magazines : Babyland: nurse-help for the mother and baby-joy for the little one; 50 cents a year. Our Little Men and Women: delightful hours and years, for beginning readers; $1.00. Pansy: for the Sunday school age and aim; $1.00. Chautauqua Young Folks' Journal: for studious young folks; $1.00. Wide Awake: library, study, play-house, life at home and abroad, companionship of the wise and good; $2.40 a year. The things to be paid are better than money, because they are more than the money could possibly be. They are better also, some of them, because you never heard of them and wouldn't have the chance to get them for some time yet. But the rate! For $1.25 in new subscriptions we pay $1.00 in merchandise! More than that on the average. Some things we get to better advantage than others. Take a well-known example; the Waterbury watch with chain and whistle and agate charm. We call them all together worth $3.00. and pay them for $4 00 in new subscriptions. Another well-known example; the Weeden engine; Price, $1.25; for $1.35 in new subscriptions. Another example not well-known but worth knowing; the Hartman steel-wire door-mat; price, $4.00; for $4.50 in new subscriptions. Another: the Bissell Carpet sweeper; price, $3.00; for $3.25. Another: the Kerosene Brick; price, 35 cts.; Another: a photograph-outfit, Horsman's Another: Everything children wear, $1.00; Another jack-plane pencil sharpener, 25 Another: Silver-plated ware, $1; for $1.10. We pay as we buy. art studies and reproductions of oil paintings, $1.00; for $1.10. Another: the best stylograph, $1.50; for $1.75. Another: Lambie's Dictionary holder, $5.00; for $5 50. Another Webster's Dictionary with marginal index, $13; for $17. Another: Worcester's ditto, $11; for $13. Another your choice of 2000 books, any book we publish, $1.00; for $1.20. And so on through 32 pages of picked-out things for children and the family. Send five cents for a sample copy of any one magazine or fifteen cents for all. Franklin and Hawley Streets, Boston, Maɛ. D. LOTHROP COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. |