NATURE-STUDY IN THE ELKHART SCHOOLS 



By E. H. DRAKE, 

 Superintendent of Schools 



"Nature-Study is learning those things in nature that are best worth 

 knowing to the end of doing those things that make hfe most worth the 

 living. ' ' — Hodge . 



It is during the years that the child is in the pubHc school that 

 aptitudes are developed, tastes acquired and life habits formed. 

 Hence, during these important years, every child should be 

 taught to know and love nature, should be led to form habits of 

 observation that will enable him to understand something of the 

 great laws which will go far toward making his life work more 

 profitable and delightful. 



Nature-study is not science. It is not a collection of facts 

 written by some expert. It is concerned with the child's out- 

 look on the world. It is coming into personal relation and 

 sympathy with the outside world. It is the knowing of plants, 

 insects, birds, trees, etc. It is the seeing of things first hand. 



Nature love tends toward naturalness and toward simplicity 

 of living. It tends "country ward". One word from the field is 

 w^orth two from the city. "God made the country." The child 

 can comprehend nature and will be interested in it because he 

 finds much which is so intimately connected with his own life. 



Nature-study has its disciplinary value upon the child's mind. 

 It develops those centers of mind that otherwise might remain 

 dormant. He will acquire a fund of knowledge of the things 

 about him which will do much to increase his interest in the out- 

 side world. 



The child should be led to see the unity, harmony and beauty 

 of nature. This will help him to appreciate more fully his rela- 

 tion and dependence upon the plant and animal life in his vicinity. 



One need only look at the ruthless destruction of our birds and 

 the rapid spread of insect pests, to realize that the time is at 

 hand for something to be done. The common school is the place 

 to begin this fight "for the good and against the bad" in nature. 

 Very few people know even the names of the insects injurious to 

 their fruit trees, shade trees and common garden vegetables. 

 They know very little, or nothing, of the bothersome weeds and 



