NATURE-STUDY IN CALIFORNIA— A SUMMARY 



By HAROLD W. FAIRBANKS. Ph.D. 

 Berkeley, Cal. 



The following notes are based upon an examination of the 

 courses of study of 42 out of the 58 counties in the state of Cali- 

 fornia, supplemented by information gained at various county 

 institutes. The counties from which no information was ob- 

 tained are mainly the more remote and less populous ones so that 

 we may safely say that 90 per cent of the schools are represented. 



Of the 42 counties heard from, there are 34 in which nature- 

 study has more or less standing. The remainder make no 

 reference to the subject, or to any phase of it such as agriculture 

 or "science." It would appear from the above statement that 

 nature-study occupies an important place in the schools of the 

 State ; but the results of our investigation gives much less cause 

 for satisfaction. In many counties in which the subject is re- 

 ferred to in the course of study, little if anything is attempted in 

 actual practice. 



There are probably no more than half a dozen counties in which 

 nature-study receives its due attention at the hands of the 

 framers of their respective courses of study. Even in these few 

 counties the amount and value of the work given depends largely 

 upon the inclination of the individual teacher. That is, while 

 work is laid out extending through the grades, it is not usually 

 made obligator)' because so many teachers have not the right 

 kind of training to make it profitable. 



In the first place as we look over the courses of study, it is 

 evident that while progressive teachers recognize the value of 

 nature -study there has been no general state movement to pro- 

 duce a rational course of study. The various county superin- 

 tendents and boards of education have worked independently of 

 each other. With each election the attitude toward nature-study 

 is likely to change. All depends upon the taste and training of 

 the county superintendent. This it can be readily seen is wholly 

 wrong, and tends toward the discouraging of effort upon the part 

 of the individual teacher. I have in mind a county bordering up- 

 on San Francisco Bav which offers an excellent course of nature - 



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