COR-NELL 



R^ural ScKool Leaflet 



[FOR THE TEACHER] 



Published monthly by the New York State College of Ai?nculture at Cornell University, from 

 September to May, and entered as second-class matter September 30. 1907. at the Post Office 

 at Ithaca, New York, under the Act of Congress of July 16. 1894. L. H. Bailey, Director 



ALICE G. McCLOSKEY, Editor 

 Professors G. F. WARREN. CHARLES H. TUCK, and C. EDWARD JONES. Advisers 



Vol. 



ITHACA, N. Y.. OCTOBER, 1909 



No. 



NOTES 



NEW syllabus for Nature-Study has been prepared 

 by the New York State Education Department. 

 During this year, we shall try through the Cornell 

 Rural School Leaflet to assist teachers who are fol- 

 lowing this syllabus. Mr. C. Edward Jones of the 

 Education Department will act as one of the board 

 of advisers of the Leaflet. 



For the coming year, the following five subjects 

 in Nature-Study and Agriculture are all that will be 

 required of teachers in New York State: The Eng- 

 lish Sparrow; The Hen; The Dog; The Cow; 

 and The Pea. Many teachers desire to give more 

 Nature-Study work than is required by the State 

 Education Department, and we shall therefore take up additional 

 lessons in the Leaflet for the benefit of such teachers. 



Although a great deal of subject matter will be given in connection 

 with each topic, teachers should not feel that this material is to be 

 given to the children as facts from a text-book. To be educational, 

 Nature-Study must be actual out-of-door study. Many naturalists 

 have objected to Nature-Study in the school curriculum lest it be given 

 in such a dry and matter of fact way that its purpose will be defeated. 

 The mere learning of facts in connection with out-of-door objects is not 

 Nature-Study. We give facts for the benefit of the teacher, that he 

 may be able to direct the observation and reasoning powers of the 

 children. 



The English Sparrow. — While it seems to be well know-n that the 

 English Sparrow is a nuisance in this country, it will be well to let the 

 younger children make their observations on this bird with unpre- 

 judiced minds. They should be taught to make thorough investigation 



817 



