MATERIALS. Some teachers carry a trunk full of materials from one school to another, having purchased them with their own money, and this is better than doing without, but as the school year is drawing to a close we should like to suggest to the teachers a better plan. In many localities the trustees are unwilling to furnish material for busy work, sometimes from no lack of interest, but a false belief that they have no right to thus appropriate the school funds. A little tact on the part of teachers will soon change this attitude of mind. Give them a chance to contribute to a fund to be used for this purpose, and they will soon look upon this as one of the necessary expenses of the district. During the closing week of the school have a parents' day, at which time let the children's work be the most attractive feature of the entertainment. Arrange an evening if possible that fathers as well as mothers may attend, a lunch may be furnished, and a silver collection taken, with the understanding that the proceeds are to be used to purchase busy work material for the coming year. No better memorial can be left to the school you are leaving. Who will be the leaders in this good work? If only a few dollars were available I would suggest the following with which to begin the new year, the first kindergarten gift with which you can teach form, color and motion-six 11⁄2 inch balls of various colors in a paper box 75c, including postage, a thousand colored sticks, one to five inches in length, costing 25c, weaving mats of coated paper 7x7 inches at 15c per package, enginecolored papers in colors for interlacing at from 15c to 20c per package, sewing cards at 1c each or 10c per doz., a box of 500 glass beads, 20c, parquetry papers gummed or ungummed at 15c to 35c per 1.000. Besides the above which may be used in common we suggest that each child be furnished with drawing paper, a box of colored pencils, a small box of paints and brush, a box of print letters and number cards. Every parent is willing to spend this amount upon toys to be used at home. Why not expend the same amount where play may become educational? The Play Festival at Cedar Rapids, Ia. A Kindergarten' Play Festival under the direction of the Public School Kindergartners of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was given Friday afternoon, May 9th, at Coe College gymnasium. The occasion marks the beginning of what will be known as the Annual Kindergarten Play Festival, the object of which is the bringing of the children together with one common feeling and to awaken a greater interest and enthusiasm in this department of school activity among teachers, parents and the community. Also to start a fund whereby the organization known as the Kindergarten Club may further its interest in Kindergarten Education by bringing speakers to the city and by sending delegates to the International Kindergarten Union. The opening number--the grand march, in which all took part, was a beautiful and impressive sight. Two hundred and fifty children representing nine kindergartens marched into the large gymnasium. each carrying a wand on the end of which was a pink and white pom-pom. After figure marching they formed a large double circle around the room and sang a greeting to the visitors, who occupied every available space. Then followed the song, "Spring and Summer" by the entire group, after which all were seated and the following program given: EDUCATIONAL NEWS All patrons of the magazine are cordially invited to use these columns for announcing lectures, recitals or entertainments of any kind of interest to kindergartners or primary teachers. Rep rts of meetings held, and miscellaneous news items are also s licited. In writing please give your name and address. The spring meeting of the Philoda Training School for Kindergartners was held Saturday, April 19th, in School of Industrial Art, Broad and Pine streets. Meeting was opened with a selection by the Alumnae Chorus. This was followed by the treasurer's report, after which the registrar, Miss Elizabeth Banes, read a letter from one of our members, Miss Anna Young, telling of her work in the Catskills. Mrs. Van Kirk then made a little address, and thanked the alumnae for the memorial to Miss Moseley. Also explained about life membership by the payment of ten dollars. The corresponding secretary then gave her report. This finished the business meeting. Next on the program a duet by members of chorus. A paper was then read from Mrs. Hoffman, of Newark, a former graduate. It was written in a most interesting way. She spoke of her experience in kindergarten work, how after her marriage both she and her husband were interested in the early educators, and spent a great deal of time, reading books on education. Studied these things and applied them in connection with her kindergarten training in her home with her five children. She spoke of the happy hours spent in using the different occupations, of the mysteries of the "kindergarten drawer," where the material was kept. She brought out Froebel's theory of the unity and oneness of everything and the three-fold nature of the child. Miss Rosamond Hoyt then gave some songs accompanied by the banjo, which were very enjoyable. Mrs. Longaker, one of the alumnae, gave some statistics of working women, also of the low wages paid them and per cent of deaths among them. Then she gave funny sayings of the children in her kindergarten where she taught, of her brothers and sisters, and her own children now, having four, all under five years of age. The program was then closed with another song by Miss Hoyt, after which a pleasant social hour followed. Respectfully submitted, GLADYS TRAVILLA, BERKELEY, CAL. The first meeting of the mothers of the West Berkeley public kindergarten was held April 15 in the kindergarten building on Seventh street near Delaware. Dr. Leonore Ginno gave an interesting talk, with chart illustration, on the child's first teeth, how to care for and preserve them, following which there CHICAGO, ILL. At the annual business meeting of the Chicago Public School Kindergarten Association, held April 19 in the Art Institute, the following officers were elected: President, Lucy I. Schaffner; vice president, Mrs. Mary Blodgett; treasurer, M. Frances Corby; corresponding secretary, Jean F. Smith; recording secretary, Mabel Snowell. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Froebel, founder of the kindergarten, was observed April 21st by the Pioneer Kindergarten Society of San Francisco in its rooms at 1241 Powell street. The event also included the honoring of the name of Miss Emma Marwedel, whose personal instruction under the widow of Froebel led her into a proficiency of the kindergarten system, and she was the founder of the first kindergarten in San Francisco establishing this method for teaching little children-in 1878. The expounding of the principles of Froebel and their practical value as promulgated by Miss Marwedel were made the subject of informal remarks by Miss Kate Atkinson, treasurer of the kindergarten society. NEWPORT, R. I. A large and interesting meeting of the parents was held in the kindergarten room of the Cary school April 22nd. An address, music, songs and folk dances made up the entertainment. FORT WORTH, TEX. Gov. Colquitt will be urged by the State Congress of Mothers to aid in securing a Child Welfare Commission for Texas when the extra session of the Legislature convenes this summer. SACRAMENTO, CAL. A new kindergarten building is to be erected near the Oak Park grammar school. A kindergartner of varied experience is Miss Dora Ensom, now a director of kindergarten in public school No. 16, Rochester, N. Y. Miss Ensom is a native of New Zealand and studied kindergarten in Sydney, Australia. When Miss Frances Newton, one of the faculty of the Chicago Kindergarten Institute, who had reorganized kindergarten work in Sydney, returned to America, Miss Ensom accompanied her to continue her studies at the Institute. Sne practiced for two and one-half years in Rochester and then returned to Dunedin, Province of Otago, New Zealand, where she supervised four kindergartens under the Free Kindergarten Association and trained kindergartners and head teachers, besides taking charge of a local Froebel Club. Upon her return to the United States she engaged in summer work in Knoxville, Tenn., following this up by a year at the Northwestern University Settlement, Chicago, where she did the neighborhood work, being called from there to take charge of the kindergarten in the new school where she is BOOK NOTES. THE STORY SONG BOOK: Words by Harriette Young Warner; music by Frances Porter-Ross. PubIshed by Catherine E. Cook. 38 pp. Open Court Pub. Co., Chicago. The following ten Nature songs are set to singable mus c as follows, in this handsome volume: "The Pansy Queen," "Jack Frost," "The Yellow Hammer," "The Pond," "The Windows," "The Tale of a Bunny," "The Sunflower," "The Firefly's Dilemma," "Tree Lullaby," "The Stars." The music in each case is simple, melodious and expressive. In "The Pond" the different aspects of the water in the sparkling sunshine, in calm, and in storm are noted. A poetic thought in "The Windows" is that suggested by the reflection from the glass of the glow of the setting sun. The Firefly and Bunny verses will please with their bit of humor. City, as well as country children, are more or less familiar with the aspects of nature presented in most of these little songs, so that the appeal will be a general one, to all childhood. A full page illustration in color, with simple decorative wash effect, accompanies each song. These are by "Penny" Ross. REAL CHILDREN IN REAL LANDS: Series of visits through the sterescope guided by M. S. Emery. Published by Underwood & Underwood, New York City. Such is the psychological reaction made upon the mind by a view through a sterescope that we seem to actually be a part of the scene presented. Therefore, in viewing the children of the eighteen countries reprsented in this series of pictures we are right on the spot, and really see before us the little people of Ireland, Holland, Spain, Italy, Russia, India, and other foreign places. On the reverse side of each steregraphic card are given concise descriptions of the customs and interests of the particular young folk it exhibits, and this information is amplified in a book that accompanies the set of pictures. The text of this book is written by Miss M. S. Emery, author of "How to Enjoy Pictures," and both in the style of the writing and in the somewhat out-of-the-way and unusual bits of knowledge given in its pages, the volume is one sure to delight the average child and to interest the grown-up. THE KINDERGARTEN, by Susan E. Blow, Patty S. Hill, and Elizabeth Harrison. Cloth. 301 pages. Published by Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, New York and Chicago. Price $1.25 net, postpaid. In this book, written by three leading kindergartners, in co-operation and in full consultation with the Committee of Nineteen of the International Kindergarten Union, will be found the best discussions that can be offered of the theory and actual practice of the kindergarten today. The book wil! be found to be of unusual interest not only to kindergartners and other teachers, but also to parents who are seeking the best form of training for their children. MARY ANNE'S LITTLE INDIAN, and other true stories. By Frances Margaret Fox. Illustrated by Dorothy O'Reilly Aniol. Cloth. 87 pages. Published by A. Flanagan Co., Chicago. Price 25 cents. The book contains 14 illustrated stories of more than usual interest for little children. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STANDARDS. By Frank M. McMurry, Cloth, 280 pps. Published by the World Book Co., Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York. Price, $1.50. arriving at a just estimate of the quality of teaching, the course of study, and the supervision by principals, in the elementary schools of New York City, naturally formulated standards of value whereby the work of the elementary schools could be appraised. Every teacher ought to know whether her work is up to the standard set by one of so great experience, and the book is well worth a place in the teacher's library. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. The summer term of the Grand Rapids Kindergarten Training School will open July first, continuing to August 23d. This training school has just moved into new quarters at No. 508 Fountain street, where there are commodious quarters delightfully located. There are fourteen rooms in all. The ground floor affords two large class rooms, an office, drawing room, and locker rooms. The upper floor is to be used by the library, principal's office, alumnae room for the meeting of the Alumnae Association and Froebel Mothers Club. The other rooms will be used for the accommodation of the teachers. library is to be a memorial to Mrs. Lucretia Willard Treat, who served as principal of the school for thirteen years. The The house occupies a generous area of ground, one portion is enclosed in a vine covered lattice wall, which will afford a delightful and exclusive retreat for the students taking advantage of the sum mer term. A protest comes from Miss Laura A. Quarry, a capable Canadian kindergartner, who has been experimenting with Montessori methods in Washington, D. C., during the past year in one of the private schools, Miss Quarry feels that those who have tested the method practically should have been given time to enter into the discussion. She writes: "I am a richer, keener and truer disciple of Froebel since experimenting with the Montessori method. If Froebel were in our midst today I am sure he would acknowledge that the Montessori method is to Italy what the kindergarten was at first to Germany. The Montessori method has its place in "the century of the child." It is certainly to be regretted that there is so little time given to discussion at our educational gatherings. From a leading training school kindergartner of Chicago, referring to the Montessori method: "The attitude of our school as well as that of many others is one of open-mindedness to what Dr. Montessori may contribute to education. I am sure her work will not supplant the kindergarten, but I trust in certain limited practices it may supplement it." An experienced and successful training school supervisor states that she has had a small class during the past year, and has given two courses of lectures to kindergartners, and also has demonstrated the Montessori Method for six weeks, but is satisfied that it falls very far short when compared with the kindergarten. Miss Harrietta Melissa Mills, one of the most efficient kindergartners of New York, will again be in charge of the kindergarten department of the Summer School of New York University, which opens July 1st, and continues to August 1st. This department has been un |