INDEPENDENT OBSERVATION 



BY SARAH CONSIDINE 

 Grant School, Passaic, N. J. 



Webster says, "Observation is an expression of an opinion 

 or judgment upon what one has observed." Even the most 

 trivial objects around us or the most unimportant events of life 

 will convey education in some form if thoughtfully considered 

 or observed. We all know that children are very keen observers 

 and many of us have often heard the remark, "If you want to 

 know all that is happening take a child with you as he always 

 sees everything." Let a stranger enter your class room if only 

 for a few minutes and then depart. The children if given a 

 chance to express their opinion of the person, will surprise you 

 with their cleverness of observation. We do not always give 

 them credit for this keen sense which they possess. 



In their nature work as in all other things there is very little 

 but what they can tell you if given the opportunity to observe 

 and report what they have seen. In our lessons on birds, trees 

 and flowers where each child is given an opportunity to tell what 

 he has observed, I tell the class several days ahead that on a 

 certain day we shall talk on such a subject — say the chimney 

 swift, the elm tree, or the violet, as the case may be. I tell 

 them to be observing on this subject, to be able to report to the 

 class what they have observed. 



Always try to give each pupil an opportunity to say some- 

 thing and encourage those who hesitate or seem afraid to report. 

 Supposing their observations are not always correct, do not 

 make them feel as though they hadn't seen anything and in as 

 many words or by your manner tell them so. Rather tell them 

 that you do not agree with them, or did not see it as they did, 

 and that you would like to have them look again and then tell 

 you. As soon as the time can be taken, hear what they have 

 to say. You will find they will come back eager to tell you 

 what they have seen, and that this time their observation will 

 be correct as they have been more careful. 



If you have a class not especially observant, tell them at 



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