260 THE NA TURE-SrUD V REVIE W \ 2 : 8— nov., . 9 o 6 



ideals of the county boards of these forty-six counties. He regards 

 the change of ideals towards nature-study as especially noteworthy, 

 and sums it up as follows: 



"In both the earlier and later periods observation lessons and nature-study 

 begin usually in the first grade. This study now usually extends two or three 

 years longer than it did about ten years ago. What is of more significance is 

 the attitude toward the work. The study as elementary science was at the 

 earlier period emphasized by twenty-four counties, while only nine at the later 

 date so emphasized it. On the other hand only five at the earlier date emphasized 

 the love and appreciation of nature, while sixteen emphasized this in 1904-5. 

 This seems to me a very praiseworthy change. That the county boards should 

 have assisted the children to come into their literary inheritance is to their credit; 

 that a few of them should have become more helpful in leading children to 

 appreciate nature is to the credit of those few and the movement is surely in the 

 right direction. The work of such leaders as Professor Hodge of Clark Univer- 

 sity and Professor Bailey of Cornell University has not been entirely vain in our 



own state In the same connection is to be noted a marked tendency 



to study the physical and chemical forces, and plant, animal and mineral forms as 

 constituents of one great organic whole and not as separate objects. The 

 practical phase of one portion of this field has been emphasized. No county 

 in 1896 mentioned agriculture in its manual. It appeared as a prescribed study 

 in some form in twelve mmuals in 1904-5. ... In regard to school- gardens, 

 California is far behind some of the Eastern states and European countries." 

 (The manuals of five counties make mention of school-gardens, and one definitely 

 mentions forestry.) 



As just stated, agriculture was not mentioned in manuals of 1S96 

 whereas in 1904-5 it appears as a prescribed study in twelve manuals. 

 Early in 1906 the writer addressed letters of inquiry to all the county 

 supeiintendents of the State for the purpose of determining to what 

 extent attention was being given to agriculture (i. e. certain phases 

 adapted to elementary schools), and also the general attitude of these 

 teachers toward the introduction of this subject. 5 Out of thirty-seven 

 counties sixteen reported as giving such instruction, twelve as doing 

 a little along the line of agriculture and three as giving no attention 

 to it. while all but three expressed an opinion that some such work is 

 desirable in country and village schools. Thus it may be seen that 

 the movement to emphasize the agricultural side of nature-study is 

 making rapid gains. The interest in this movement is further shown 

 by the fact that the leaders in agricultural matters are actively lending 



= Shall Teachers be Prepared to Give Instruction in Elementary Agriculture? 

 B. M. Davis Western Journal of Education, vol XI, no. 5, pp. 5-15. This report 

 was submitted to the Joint Board of the California State Normal School Trus- 

 tees at its annual meeting held at Chico, Cal., April 13, 1906. 



