54 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:2— Feb., 1917 



famous committees of the N. E. A. in history, etc. — ^to establish 

 standards for nature-study? 



My own opinion is that it is not wise now to attempt such 

 standardization. I do not think we are ready for this step. 

 Nature-study is still in the experimental stage, and the permanent 

 value of aims, principles, methods, and subject matter are still 

 in question. The whole traditional curriculum is at present 

 ■under fire. Much of it will soon be changed. New points of view 

 are being developed in elementary education. In this trans- 

 formation nature-study will be affected. That is another reason 

 why we should not be hasty about establishing definite standards 

 for this study. 



I am not sure that we can or should ever formalize nature- 

 study like arithmetic or even geography. I think it should and 

 always will retain a certain flexibility. The educational field of 

 nature-study is too wide to permit very close standardizing for 

 the whole domain. It is, in my judgment, better to standardize 

 a course for large cities, a course for rural towns, and an agri- 

 cultural course for the country districts. If we did this there 

 might be some hope for agreement. I believe the best we can do 

 now is to continue to experiment in nature-study, and for the 

 educational leaders in nature-study to pass on the relative values 

 and educational usefulness of present practice, guiding the subject 

 along what they consider the best tendencies, and gradually 

 coming to agreement, if possible. 



In this way some day we shall be able to convince educational 

 workers and school authorities as to the advisability of conforming 

 to a somewhat flexible set of standards for nature-study. 



'High wheels the gray wing of the osprey, 



The wing of the sparrow drops low; 

 In the mist dips the wing of the robin, 

 And the snow-bird's wing in the snow. 

 Ah me! 

 Chicadee ! 

 The snow-bird sings in the snow. 



I love the high heart of the osprey, 



The meek heart of the thrush, below, 

 The heart of the lark in the meadow, 

 And the snow-bird's heart in the snow. 

 But dearest to me, 

 Chicadee ! Chicadee ! 

 Is that true little heart in the snow." 



Hezekiah Butterworth. 



