f the higher grades, and the request met such a hearty
response that it was wondered why it had not been tried before. As it is
now arranged the older girls come in before school and at recess. They
wind worsted, correct any knitting that may be wrong, start new spools,
string looms, cut material for rugs, water plants, keep the closets
where the materials are stored in order, and do many other things which
relieve in a great measure the burden of detail. When it is possible,
the teacher should choose girls who have a sister or brother in the
room, because their interest is stronger and more lasting. Of course,
some training is necessary, but the result compensates for the trouble.
Sometimes the work in other grades can be so planned that the children
can make paper mats, etc., for use in the first grade. The beautiful
community feeling begun in the kindergarten can thus be continued in the
public school. The time will come when boys and girls in the higher
grades will design patterns for the younger children to weave.

[Sidenote: _Nature knows no hurry_]

Take plenty of time in the first part of the year to teach the children
to work well. "Time is nothing when _power_ is growing." There are some
children who learn faster than others and they are always delighted to
go about the room and help the slower ones. It will sometimes be found
that they know just how to explain a difficult point--perhaps because
they have just conquered it themselves.

[Sidenote: _A child's work should be suited to his capacity, without
regard to grade_]

[Sidenote: _Train the individual_]

No work has been specified as suited to any particular grade. It should
depend entirely upon the children. While, for convenience, courses in
industrial training are planned, advising certain lines of work which
experience has proved the best for first, second, or third grade, there
are in every school, certain children who have more manual than mental
ability. These are left behind as the more favored ones are promoted,
and because a certain course has been recommended for that particular
grade, they must, perforce, do it all over again. Instead of bringing
out the best in these less fortunate ones, and developing and
strengthening their minds through the hand by offering something not
only new and interesting, but which presents new difficulties to
conquer, we stunt their growth by giving them the same baby work term
after term. It is time that earne