Corresponding with the ‘gifts’ that deal with solids, may be grouped ‘occupations’ in clay modeling, cardboard cutting, paper folding, and wood carving; and with those of surfaces may be associated mat and paper weaving, stick shaping, sewing, bead threading, paper pricking, and drawing. [Sidenote: Superficial faults,] [Sidenote: bondage to local ideals,] [Sidenote: and formal discipline.] =The Value and Influence of Froebel’s Principles.=--For one pursuing destructive criticism only, it would not be difficult to find flaws in both the theory and practice of Froebel. In the _Mother Play_ the pictures are rough and poorly drawn, the music is crude, and the verses are lacking in rhythm, poetic spirit, and diction (Fig. 43). But the illustrations and songs served well the interests and needs of those for whom they were produced, and Froebel himself was not insistent that they should be used after more satisfactory compositions were found. Other criticism of his material has been made on the ground that it was especially adapted to German ideals, German children, and the relatively simple village life of Froebel’s experience, and that it needs considerable modification to suit other countries and the industrial organization of society to-day. Also the argument of ‘formal discipline’ for care and accuracy in the use of the gifts, and the insistence upon the employment of every part of each gift upon all occasions in the exact order mentioned by Froebel, have been shown to violate the principles of modern psychology. His more liberal disciples, however, realize that it is the spirit of his underlying principles, and not the letter of his practice, that should be followed, and have constantly struggled to keep the kindergarten matter and methods in harmony with the times and the environment. Der Zimmermann. Seht mir nur den Zimmermann, Welch’ seltne Kunst er üben kann: Was steht, bringt er zum Sturz; Was lang ist, macht er kurz; Das Runde macht er grad; Das Rauhe macht er glatt; Was krumm ist, macht er gleich; So ist an Kunst er reich. Das Einzle nicht ihm g’nügt, Zum Ganzen schnell er ’s fügt; Doch, was kommt da heraus?-- Aus Balken wird ein Haus! Ein Haus für ‘s gute Kind, Daß es d’rin Eltern find’, Die sorgsam es bewahren Vor Seel’- und Leib’sgefahren. Den Zimmermann das Kind d’rum liebt, Der ihm den Schutz des Hauses giebt. [Illustration: Fig. 43.--_Der Zimmermann_ (The Carpenter). (Reproduced by permission of D. Appleton and Company from the Eliot and Blow edition of Froebel’s _Mother Play_.)] [Sidenote: Greatest weakness in symbolism and mysticism.] [Sidenote: Fantastic and vague doctrines.] [Sidenote: Notion that nature may illumine mental and social laws.]