1903] Nature Study — No. 6. 129 



NATURE STUDY— No. VI. 



Nature-Study with Advanced Classes — An Experi.ment. 

 Prof. W. LocHHEAD, Giielph, Ont. 



Bailey has said: "When the teacher thinks chiefly of his 

 subject, he teaches a science ; when he thinks chiefly of his pupil, 

 he is probably teaching Nature Study." This sentence puts in a 

 nut-shell the proper attitude of the teacher of Nature-Study, but it 

 should also be the attitude of every teacher who claims to educate, 

 no matter whether he is dealing- with pupils in the public schools, 

 or with students in the colleges and universities. It must be 

 admitted that the framers of the courses, and the teachers as well, 

 m most of our colleges, lay too great stress on the subject-matter, 

 and leave out, to a large degree, the student Of all colleges, an 

 agricultural college should be the best school for the study of 

 Nature, — and for Nature-Study as well, if there is a real distinction ; 

 for from the outset the attention of the student is directed towards 

 the soil, the plant, and the animal; yet, it must be confessed that 

 the method of instruction in some of these colleges is still ' largely 

 a reflection of mediaeval practices and ideals." 



For some time past the writer felt that the studies of the 

 regular session dealt too much with laboratory collections and with 

 books, and too little with out-of door subjects. He felt also that 

 the student should acquire the " habit of observing and seeing for 

 himself and at his best, without books or help, in the presence of 

 the facts and in the open air." It is true that the in-door method 

 of investigation is an adaptation to meet unfavorable conditions. 

 The regular session of the Ontario Agricultural College does not 

 begin until the middle of September ; winter sets in about the first 

 week of November; and the session closes on the 15th oi April. 

 There is therefore little opportunity for thorough out-of-door studies 

 during the regular session. 



To remedy this state of affairs, a two months' course in 

 Nature-Study was given at the College, for the first time this year 

 to the students of the Third Year. This course began on the 

 20th of April, and continued until the 15th of June. 



As the students were already familiar with the elementary facts 

 of botany, physics, entomology, and zoology, the method of in" 



