"It is a common mistake to attempt to teach too much at every exer- 

 cise; and the teacher is also appalled at the amount of information which 

 he must liave. Suppose that one teaches tzeo hundred and fifty days in 

 the year. Start out 7\.'ith the determination to drop into the pupils' minds 

 tzco hundred and fifty su.ggestions about nature. One suggestion is suf- 

 ficient for a day. Let them think about it and ponder over it. [f'f stuff 

 our children so full of facts that they cannot digest them. I should 

 prefer ten minutes a day of nature-study to tn'o hours ; but I should zi'ant 

 it quick and sharp. I should zi'ant it designed to develop the observing 

 and reasoning powers of the child and not to give mere information. It 

 should be vivid and spontaneous. Spirit counts for more than knozdedge. 



" Taught in this zeay, nature-study zcork is not an additional burden 

 to the teacher, hut a relief and a relaxation.'' 



L. H. Bailey, in The Xature-Study Idea. 



524 



i 



