ΤΟ E. J. W. WITH GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF HER UNFAILING SYMPATHY AND HELP DURING THESE TEN YEARS OF PLEASANT WORK TOGETHER. 416488 FOREWORD TO THE TEACHER In recognition of the fact that there are already in existence various excellent collections of poetry for children, and that still another would therefore seem to be quite unnecessary, it is perhaps fitting that this little book should present itself with due apology for its existence. It might be better, however, to acknowledge frankly that this present volume does not claim to be a "collection" at all, in the ordinary sense of the word. Rather is it a text-book of poetry, limited in its scope by the needs and interests of the first school years, and aiming only to be an introduction to the real anthologies for children, the larger and more complete collections. It is hoped that it may serve as the first "studybook" which a little child should be asked to use, and that as such it may correlate to advantage with the reading-books, and with the oral lessons in botany or history or geography of the lower primary grades. There is perhaps a grain of truth in the assertion that the so-called modern methods of education forget to train the memory. Certainly every teacher, conservative or progressive, would agree that facility in memorizing is most valuable, and that as one step |