THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



DEVOTED TO ALL PHASES OF NATURE-STUDY IN SCHOOLS 



Vol. 4 SEPTEMBER, 1908 No. 6 



THE NATURE-STUDY OUTLOOK 



By L. H. BAILEY 



[Abstract of introductory remarks made by Professor Bailey at the con- 

 ference of the A. X. S. S., Cleveland, Ohio, July 3, 190S.] 



Professor Bailey, President of the A. N. S. S., stated some 

 points of his attitude toward nature-study. He considers the 

 movement to be well under way and, therefore, not to need the 

 kind of propaganda which it has been necessary to give to it in 

 years past. It is not necessary to make any apology for nature- 

 study, nor anydefense of it, although it is, of course, always need- 

 ful to explain what it is, and also to discuss the methods that 

 are to be employed. "For myself I read and ponder, and reply 

 not. The movement is now so well under way that it does not 

 need the approval of any person, nor does it depend on individual 

 opinion. There are differences of view in regard to many of the 

 methods. No one of us can say which of these methods is right. 

 Perhaps all are right. Inasmuch as the work represents a fund- 

 amental attitude or point of view, it is necessarily larger and more 

 far reaching than any body of opinion that may be current at 

 any particular time." 



The underlying motive of nature-study is to put one into touch 

 and sympathy with his surrounding conditions. In order to do 

 this, it takes hold of the things next at hand. It sees the important 

 thing to do and does it. Its result is the enrichment of life. 



It is very important that we do not place too much stress on 

 mere subject-matter. It will be a mistake to make nature-study 

 mere biology teaching. "I hope that the American Nature- 

 Study Society will not become a natural history society. We are 

 here to discuss not so much biological and other fact as to con- 



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