dkake] NA TURE-STUDY in ELKHART SCHOOLS 45 



spores of the parasite fungi which cost the agriculturist milHons 

 of dollars annually. The rapid development and spread of 

 obnoxious weeds and injurious insects is due principally to the 

 wanton destruction of the birds. The surest way to promote this 

 sentiment of bird protection is to teach our pupils to study and 

 know the birds. Every person who becomes intimately ac- 

 quainted with them learns to love and respect them for their 

 incalculable benefits to mankind. We must educate the child for 

 the life of the next generation. This can be done if the teacher is 

 alive to her work and interested in nature herself. Much de- 

 pends upon the spirit and aptitude of the teacher. Interest in 

 anything is contagious ; from the teacher it is sure to find its way 

 to the pupil and from the pupil it will be carried into the home. 

 The pupil should receive his inspiration from the teacher who 

 herself is so full of the subject that she teaches with spirit and 

 cheerfulness. "The power that moves the world is the power of 

 the teacher." 



It is not necessary for the teacher to be a scientist, but she 

 should be informed. Helpful books on nature-study may be 

 gotten almost without number. One of the best books to be in 

 the hands of the teacher is Hodge's "Nature Study and Life." 

 The outline of the first five years' study is based largely upon this 

 work. The work as outlined is divided into six periods of six 

 weeks each, which are as follows: (i) Late summer and early 

 fall period; (2) Late fall or frost period; (3) Early winter or 

 beginning of freezing period; (4) Winter or the hard freezing 

 period ; (5) The thawing period ; (6) The spring period. 



As the work is outlined, it is the purpose to give most atten- 

 tion to trees, birds, insects, and a few familiar wild flowers, of the 

 vicinity of Elkhart. Hence all the material used is to be found 

 in this locality. The collecting of mateiials and the field observa- 

 tions must of necessity be done in the fall and spring terms. 

 However, the teacher can collect and preserve much inaterial 

 which may be used during the winter months. The teacher 

 should lead the pupils to see the relation existing between plants 

 and insects and the relation of birds to both. A vast amount of 

 material will be brought into the schoolroom and many questions 

 asked. This should be encouraged and directed by the teacher. 

 Due attention should be given to all animal and plant life, not 

 outlined in the course, when it is secured and presented by pupils. 



