110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



who can make the lesson attractive. We send our children to school. 

 They study grammar, and geography, and history, and figures ; but the 

 natural sciences are neglected. In fact, we find active opposition when- 

 ever we attempt to introduce natural science into the public schools. 

 The greatest difficulty we have to overcome, it seems to me, is the con- 

 servatism of the times. It seems unaccountable that there should be a 

 dislike and popular prejudice against introducing studies pertaining to 

 natural science, when their practical importance is so apparent. What is 

 the best thing to do under the circumstances? If any one knows how to 

 overcome the difficulty, I would be much pleased to hear him explain 

 how it is to be done. 



Mr. McWhorter (of Aledo) said : We must take time to wear away 

 the popular prejudices against the subject. 



Mr. Flagg — That is, do away with the " old one." [Laughter.] 



Mr. McWhorter — That's it. 



Mr. Child — I have discovered that a teacher can awaken a great 

 deal of interest by using plants and flowers as an object lesson. Let the 

 pupils bring into the school room the leaves of a plant and they cannot 

 fail to become interested in the practical study of it. The child begins 

 by learning the names of plants, then their parts and characteristics ; and 

 an interest in this way will be awakened that will never die out. 



Prof. Worthen said that the first thing to do, in regard to this ques- 

 tion, was to qualify our teachers, and so instruct them that they cannot 

 fail to create an interest in the minds of all pupils who come under their 

 instruction. There is nothing that the child will be so quick to learn as 

 this subject of Botany, where the right methods are used, and instruction 

 is intelligently given, with the object of the lesson before the pupils. 



Mr. Dennis — I know a teacher who in the spring time takes a walk 

 with her pupils once a week for the purpose of studying botanical subjects ; 

 and she succeeds admirably in interesting her pupils and giving them 

 substantial knowledge. I think the plan is excellent. 



Mr. McWhorter said that a successful teacher must not only be quali- 

 fied to teach, but he must be able to convince the parents and neighbor- 

 hood of his qualifications by the interest which he excites and maintains 

 in his pupils. 



Mr. Gaston said: The way was for the teacher to teach the child,, 

 and the child to teach the parent. He said that he was now taking les- 

 sons from his boy, but eight years old. 



