I o 6 j THE NA TURE-S TUD V KE I 'IE IV [5 :4— apr., ) 909 



it. It is good. But it is equally good for a// children, as cutting 

 paper, and weaving mats, and moulding clay, and the like, are 

 good for all children. All of these things make for all-around 

 culture, for all-around outlook, and for all-around love for work 

 and for facility in doing. Nature-study is quite likely to appeal 

 less to the country child than to the city child for obvious 

 reasons, and, while it is to be encouraged in the country as in the 

 city, it apparently has about the same relation to real agriculture 

 that sloyd has to laying out an electric plant for a city, or laying 

 down the keel for a battle-ship. In other words, it is a good 

 thing — a good thing everywhere, because it helps mould the 

 character of boys and girls and keeps the way open for what 

 may come after, but calling it agricultural instruction will not 

 increase its importance so much as it will confuse some minds and 

 subject us to the criticism that we are not doing what we pro- 

 claim. 



"We are asked to encourage the teaching of agriculture in the 

 elementary schools. I am for doing it so far as is practically 

 possible. I admit, however, that I am at a loss to know what 

 are the phases of real agriculture which are adaptable to the 

 primary schools, or how to install them in ways that will dispose 

 children to become interested in them. I know of many things 

 which look to quickening and dignifying the different agricul- 

 tural industries, in which the children of farmers are likely to 

 find interest and which are not incompatible with the plan and 

 purpose of the elementary schools, and I am for introducing 

 them into the course of study; but I confess that I am unable 

 to see the reasonableness or the practicability of teaching real 

 agriculture, any more than engineering or medicine in the 

 elementary schools. Agriculture is not an elementary subject." 



COMMITTEES OF THE AMERICAN NATURE -STUDY 



SOCIETY 



The Council has appointed the following committees which will 

 be expected to consider the possible lines for useful work of the 

 Society from the several standpoints suggested by the titles of 

 the committees. Each committee is authorized to add new 

 members or to form sub-committees. It is expected that the 

 Council will reappoint these committees annuall}'' so as to give 



