NATURE-STUDY AND A SOCIAL NEED 



BY H. N. LOOMIS 

 Director of Science, New Britain (Conn.) Normal-Training School 



May it not be that the invitation last spring for a list of "ten best 

 books" on nature-study lacked explicitness ? Mr. Bardwell in his 

 reply pointed out a difficulty that confronts those who deal at once 

 with children and teachers when he says, "I also seek to know the 

 individual, or individuals, before I recommend books. " One gains 

 from the various discussions connected with the nature-study move- 

 ment, as well as from the lists in the May Review, an idea of the 

 many sidedness of the question. Lessons are given with a certain 

 content and for a certain purpose. On no other basis can one under- 

 stand the disappointment he encounters as he turns away from the 

 hundreds of "lessons" annually published. By some we are annoyed, 

 while to others we are indifferent. Occasionally we are able to lay 

 the finger on what we regard as defective; usually however, it is a 

 matter of undefined dislike. In the planning of a "lesson" there are 

 two or three things never entirely neglected. A lesson may be 

 planned and taught under the apparent guidance of one of these 

 directing ideas, the others are present, however, as an unconscious 

 habit of thought, or hidden in a previous lesson which serves as a 

 pattern. 



Turning to the 22 lists of books submitted one finds confirmation 

 for this contention. There seem to be but two of the lists submitted 

 in which books dealing with the purpose of nature-study and methods 

 of presenting the subject are lacking. Of these two exceptions that 

 of W. S. Hall's itself explains the omission in the following words. 

 "I would suggest the following as we have tested them in our summer 

 home." This writer apparently, is not speaking from the stand- 

 point of the public-school teacher, but rather from that of a cultured 

 parent. These two approaches to the subject are so different in 

 point of view that it is difficult to treat of them together. The second 

 apparent exception is unsigned 21. It speaks of "beginners in 

 nature-study and for a general outlook on plant and animal life," at 

 the same time submitting one of the best lists of books given. The 

 fact that the list is headed by Selina Gaye's great book renders it 



