PROGRESS OF THE NATURE-STUDY IDEA IN TEXAS 



By A. M. FERGUSON, Choctaw, Texas 



The nature-stud}- idea has made and is making- great progress 

 in Texas. This is evidenced in a positive way in a large number 

 of city and rural schools where either as nature-study in the 

 narrow sense or as elementary agriculture it has taken its place 

 as a school study. However it has not yet attained anything 

 like general recognition as a school subject in the Lone Star 

 State. These actual victories I do not care to discuss at this 

 time ; but the popular recognition of the idea has made very 

 rapid progress. If a forecast is permissible, it would not be 

 very hazardous to predict that in a few years every school in the 

 state will have recognized the idea and acted on it. 



'S3 1 



For nearly two years the idea has been growing in favor 

 with teachers and particularly with the governing officials of our 

 schools. The support that has been given has for the most 

 part found expression in the resi >lutions of agricultural associa- 

 tions, and to some extent in the formal declarations of teachers' 

 meetings. Of course, in the former "elementary agriculture" 

 has been mentioned in particular. Expressions from other 

 sources have recognized nature-study as a part, or in common 

 with industrial education, manual training, etc., with here and 

 there a specific mention of one or more of the natural sciences. 

 Recent developments are very encouraging. Within the last 

 year a "General Educational Committee" was formed, whose 

 particular object was to secure favorable recognition for indus- 

 trial education in the platform of the dominant political party 

 (Democrats). In this they were successful. The nineteenth 

 plank, which was well received, reads in part as follows: 



"* * *; that there be provided adequate agricultural equipment and 

 teaching force for the State Normal Colleges, the College of Industrial Arts 

 for girls, and the Agricultural and Mechanical College; and that industrial 

 thought in the schools be encouraged bv teaching the elements of agriculture 

 and the industrial arts; that the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the 

 College of Industrial Arts for Girls, and the State Normal Colleges be 

 authorized to grant diplomas having the force of teachers' certificates to all 

 who complete the necessarv course as graduates in the industrial branches;" 



