1905] Botanical Branch. 223 



BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



On January 26th the following' members and friends of the 

 Botanical Branch met at the residence of Mr. A. E Attwood : 

 Messrs. J. Fletcher, J. Macoun, R. B. Whyte, W. T. Macoun, 

 T. E. Clarke, J. M. Macoun, D. A. Campbell, R. Cameron, W. 

 C, Ewing. J. C. Spence and Norman Criddle. 



The greater part of the evening was spent in considering the 

 obstacles to the successful teaching of Nature Study in city public 

 schools. The following difficulties were pointed out by the leader: 



1. Lack of time. Tlie curriculum is already crowded, and 

 public opinion is declaring itself in favor of greater thoroughness 

 in the old staple subjects. 



2. Lack c'f material and appliances for study. As is the case 

 with the other two new subjects, Domestic Science and Manual 

 Training, the work must be done by the pupils individually in a 

 place with the necessary equipments. A Nature Study laboratory 

 is as necessary to the syccessful teaching of elementary science 

 as is a workshop in the teaching of manual training. 



3. Lack of definiteness. An educationist has said that the 

 teacher tolerates the product on account of the process, and that 

 the pupil tolerates the process on account of the product. As 

 things are at present, there is no tangible product for work done 

 by the pup Is. Even teachers lack a clear conception of the scope 

 of the subject. Nature Study requires to be defined in a way that 

 will appeal to all. 



4. A cause of disorder. The frivolity often observable in a 

 large class of small children during a lesson in Nature Study 

 tends to demoralize the class. The orderly freedom necessary to 

 good work in mutual investigation is a difficult condition in 

 classes of forty or fifty young pupils. 



5. Lack of popularity. By actual vote of over 200 pupils, it 

 was ascertained that Nature Study is not liked as well as are the 

 ordinary subjects. Unpopularity of any school subject is due 

 either to its essential unsuitability or to the unattractiveness of its 

 presentation by the teacher. Ihere is little doubt that the latter 

 is the chief cause for the present lack of popularity ot Nature 

 Study. 



