moore] NATURE-STUDY IN NEW JERSEY 209 



In those cities and towns where there are special teachers 

 in nature-study this subject is one of the potent educational 

 factors of the community. Indeed there are many grade teachers 

 here and there whose progress in nature-study teaching is note- 

 worthy. The majority of grade teachers, however, by whom 

 much of the nature-study is carried on and by whom much of 

 it'will necessarily be conducted in the future are worthy subjects 

 for consideration, because few are adequately equipped for 

 the work and few have a natural aptitude for it. Teachers who 

 are rather bookish conduct nature lessons with reluctance. 

 Many teachers are afraid of the discipline in a field excursion 

 or afraid of handling nature-study materials indoors. To such 

 nature-study does not pose as a panacea for all the ills of dis- 

 cipline in a schoolroom but it does create an added interest in 

 school work. Were the training of the mind not considered, 

 the added interest in itself would be cause enough for its being 

 in the curriculum. 



The Trenton Normal School, the various city training schools, 

 and special teachers are giving much time and attention to 

 the training of student teachers along nature-study lines. More- 

 over the activity of the State Department of Education in 

 promulgating courses of study for teachers as well as pupils in 

 this subject is an added source of encouragement. 



The general awakening to the need of the more practical 

 phases of education; a more tolerant attitude toward nature- 

 study by teachers of the more classical turn of mind; and a 

 revision of courses of study to satisfy in part, at least, the claims 

 of nature-study are unmistakable and hopeful signs of growth. 

 Perhaps the most hopeful indication, because the most imme- 

 diately fruitful of results, is the consideration that is being 

 given to the subject by our State Science Teachers' Association 

 at whose meetings the discussions along nature-study lines is one 

 of the chief sources of interest and profit. 



Now that the stimulus for greater effort has been given, it is 

 necessary to agree upon a plan of action which will give greater 

 unity of purpose. In agricultural communities nature-study 

 will necessarily take an agricultural trend; in the so-called 

 industrial centers it will in part follow along lines of those 

 pursuits. But what ever the locality or industry the main 

 purpose should not be to introduce the science of agriculture 



