SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 



Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER 



Address all communications relative to the work of this depart- 

 ment to the Editor, at 67 Oriole Avenue, Providence, R. I. 



LENDING A HAND 



From two widely separated states come definite plans for enlarging the 

 field of nature-study by means of cooperation between schools, libraries, and 

 various organizations. Mr. William G. Vinal, Instructor in nature-study in 

 the Rhode Island Normal School, together with Mr. E. K. Thomas, State 

 Leader in Club Work, of the State College of Rhode Island, have prepared a 

 typewritten directory, describing briefly the different forces at work through- 

 out the state that in one way or another contribute or may be made to con- 

 tribute to the nature-study movement. Among these are mentioned exhi- 

 bitions of ten agricultural, horticultural, poultry, and fanciers' associa- 

 tions, the Audubon and Junior Audubon Societies, Bird-Lore and its school 

 department, the Corn Clubs of the school boys of Rhode Island, the State 

 Board of Agriculture and its particularly effective entomological department, 

 Brown University, which through its botanical department cooperates with 

 teachers and pupils of private and public schools, Camp-Fire Girls, field 

 naturalist societies, the Commission of Education and Commission of Fores- 

 try, the League of Improvement Societies, botanical societies, the Federal 

 Office of Plant Pathology, the Public Park Association, Boy Scouts, Fish and 

 Shellfish Commissions, entomological and horticultural societies. Institute 

 of Instruction, various humane societies, museums. State College exten- 

 sion department, farmers' institutes, Sigma Xi, "an honorary fraternity to 

 encourage scientific investigation," which gives free lectures occasionally, 

 and lastly, the public schools of the state. Evidently through an oversight, 

 public libraries are omitted from this list. 



Emphasis has been placed upon the relation of these various agencies to the 

 teacher. Additions and corrections are solicited, and all to whom this directory 

 is sent are invited to take part in a nature-study exhibit, to be held next fall 

 during the week that the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction is in session. 

 At this time, all of the public school teachers of the state meet for a general 

 conference. Societies are asked to contribute reports and illustrations of their 

 work; publishers to send their latest nature-study Hterature; schools to 

 "begin now''' to prepare charts, exhibits of special work, such as nature 

 photography, maps of breeding-places of flies and mosquitos, mounted life 

 histories of insects, collections of leaves and buds, drawings, reports of bird- 

 observations, manual-training work, etc.; while demonstrations on a larger 



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