THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



DEVOTED TO ALL PHASES OF NATURE-STUDY IN SCHOOLS 



Vol. 2 FEBRUARY, 1906 No. 2 



THE RELATION OF NATURE-STUDY TO MANUAL TRAINING 



W. A. BALDWIN 

 Principal State Normal School, Hyannis, Mass. 



In connection with the discussion of the above subject several 

 questions arise. 



Is there any natural relationship existing between nature-study 

 and manual training ? 



If there is such a relationship should it not be easily proven ? 



If there appears to be no natural relationship, is it desirable to 

 foster one ? If, on the other hand, we become fully convinced that 

 such a natural relationship does exist, what effect ought this to have 

 upon the teaching of these subjects in our schools ? 



The first question may be approached from either of two stand- 

 points. We may approach it from the subject standpoint or from 

 the standpoint of the child. In the first case we would naturally look 

 at once into the schools and see how these subjects are being taught 

 and what those in charge are attempting to accomplish in connection 

 with each. Approaching from the child standpoint we would con- 

 sider the child not in the artificial atmosphere of the school but under 

 the more natural conditions which obtain in the home. It may be 

 interesting to try both lines of approach, but let us first follow the 

 conventional method and consider the matter from the subject side. 

 Are these subjects being taught as though they were related to each 

 other. 



If twenty years ago the special teacher of manual training and 

 the special teacher of nature-study of a city had been asked how their 

 respective subjects were related, each would have smiled and said : 

 " I have never thought of such a relation. Of course every subject 



