44 THE NA TU RE-STUD Y RE VIE W u : 2 - FEB ., ig o8 



and I am prepared to believe that this is largely due to the non- 

 use of the nature-study method in those courses. We now have 

 in operation a course entitled "Nature-Study Methods," open to 

 students who have completed the general courses in biology, by 

 means of which we hope to turn out a somewhat better crop of 

 practice-teachers for the spring term. 



But we find ourselves distinctly restricted in the effort to use 

 the nature-study method in our biology courses by the limita- 

 tions of time, by the rigidity and conservatism of country super- 

 intendents' examinations, which demand an acquaintance with 

 too large a body of facts, and, somewhat, by college requirements 

 for entrance and advanced standing. Here appears to be a point 

 of attack. 



I take it that Mr. Bigelow in differentiating between "human 

 interest" work in nature-study and the "research method" in 

 science will permit the translation of his "human interest" 

 qualification into "things of common experience," x for I am not 

 prepared to think that research lacks in human interest or that 

 nature-study should be lacking in the research method. It is 

 evident that there is really slight, if any, difference of opinion 

 among us upon this point, and that nature-study is believed to 

 merge as gradually into science as the boy into the man; but it 

 would be a matter for regret if on account of any ambiguity of 

 terminology the impression should be created that we are stand- 

 ing for so distinct a separateness between nature-study method 

 and science method that a teacher might deem her science courses 

 really worth little in successful nature-study work. I have seen 

 teachers distinctly handicapped by just such an impression, and 

 reluctant to use at all of the store of facts gained in the science 

 courses for fear they would be used in the wrong way. 



If it comes to a discussion of what science generalities may be 

 properly used in the nature-study course, I should like to have 

 the idea of "plant food" discussed for one. 



VIII 



By J. W. SHEPHERD 

 Director of Science in Chicago Normal School 



(i) Nature-study is not Science, but it is scientific. 



(2) In projecting a nature-study course one should distinguish 



carefully between nature-study and other subjects dealing with 



'In the paper referred to the author said "human interest in everyday 

 life." 



