THE OTTAWA NATURALIST 



VOL. XXII. OTTAWA, NOVEMBER, 1908 No. 8. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE STUDY, WITH SOME 

 SUGGESTIONS AS TO METHODS.* 



By J. F. Power, M;A., Toronto. 



Since most of us were pupils at the primary schools, 

 marked changes have taken place in the subjects taught therein. 

 This need create no surprise. Strange it would be if reforms in 

 education did not keep pace with the revolutionary changes 

 going on in the world around us. To-day, as never before, the 

 plea is being made for a course of study which will better adapt 

 the child to his environment. Hence, subjects like manual train- 

 ing and domestic science are receiving a place on the curriculum. 

 Nor need there be any conflict between those subjects and what 

 have been always considered the essentials of a proper school 

 course ; rather will they supplement the latter. I think we are 

 all pretty well agreed as to their educational importance; if so, 

 it is our duty to do all we can to encourage their existence. This 

 we can do by speaking well of them and by giving them our 

 sympathy and hearty support. 



There is another subject, nature study, which has been 

 attracting a good deal of attention. It is now about four 

 years since it was formallv introduced on the curriculum; and 

 the question may well be asked, what has been accomplished? 

 I venture to say a good deal has been done. We may not fully 

 realize this ; we may not be always conscious that we are dealing 

 with nature study when, perhaps, we are doing some of our best 

 work in the subject. We have heard a good deal about it and 

 have listened to considerable discussion upon it; and I think 

 we are, perhaps unconsciously, more interested in the things 

 around us than ever before. I fully believe also that our pupils 

 have imbibed someof this enthtisiasm, and that they are begin- 

 ning to see pleasures in the common things of evcrv day life. 



♦Read before Ottawa Teachers' Association,^ .May 8th, 1908. 



