Rural School Leaflet 



1259 



was obtained. Since natural-history subjects have educational value, 

 they may well be presented with other school work. 



In the teaching of nature-study and elementary agriculture, it may be 

 helpful to have in mind the following: 



During the first six grades in school, out-of-door study should develop 

 the spirit of the naturalist — a general interest in the out-of-doors. If 

 properly taught, at the end of this period the child interested in natural 

 forces and objects will have acquired a spirit of patient inquiry and accuracy 

 in observa- 

 tion. He will 

 begin to real- 

 ize the kin- 

 ship of out-of- 

 door objects 

 and the possi- 

 bilities of in- 

 terest and re- 

 source in 

 them. 



Teachers 

 in country 

 schools will 

 find, however, 

 that many of 

 the boys and 

 girls are not 

 interested i n 

 nature -study 

 from the view- 

 point o f the 

 naturalist. 



The pupils should not be forced into this interest, but should 

 be allowed to turn their minds to the more practical side of the subject. 

 We have found very young children much interested in the commercial 

 side of poultry-raising, growing potatoes, and the like. Let us encourage 

 these boys and girls, and, if the teacher will help, they will get the point 

 of view of the naturalist. A field of timothy is as beautiful as a field of 

 violets. Who has not felt his spirit quicken at the sight of a field of oats 

 in the sunlight or in the early evening ? Who has failed to see the beauty 

 of pumpkins in the cornfield in the "blue October weather"? What 

 form of animal life is more attractive than young chicks or ducklings? 



The work for the seventh and eighth grades, as outlined in the elementary 



Many boys and girls are interested in poultry-raising 



