CHAPTER XXIII 



TEACHING BIRD-PROTECTION IN THE SCHOOLS 



Purposes of bird-study. In the schools it is im- 

 portant that the teacher should have clearly in 

 mind the purposes of bird-study so that these may 

 serve as a guide in her teaching. The chief purposes 

 of bird-study in the schools may be briefly stated 

 as follows: first, to give the children greater plea- 

 sure in living through an acquaintance with the 

 birds; second, to teach them the economic value of 

 birds; third, to teach them to protect and to aid 

 the birds. 



Materials for bird-study. One of the features of 

 nature-study that gives it special value is the fact 

 that it deals with things at first hand, and the child 

 is learning from a direct study of the thing itself 

 instead of by reading about it. Hence it is im- 

 portant that there should be provided materials 

 for the child to study. The best and final thing is 

 for the child to study the living bird outdoors. For 

 the schoolroom lessons some material is needed to 

 create an interest which shall lead the child to this 

 outdoor study. In most schools mounted birds can- 

 not be obtained, and it is questionable whether these 

 would be desirable, especially for young children. 



