52 NATURE STUDY. 



Nature Study and Culture. 



We have become convinced that some intimate, sympathetic ac- 

 quaintance with the natural objects of the earth and sky adds 

 greatly to the happiness of life, and that this acquaintance should 

 be begun in childhood and be developed all through adolescence 

 and maturity. A brook, a hedgerow or a garden is an inexhausti- 

 ble teacher of wonder, reverence and love. 



The scientists insist to-day on nature study for children, but we 

 teachers ought long ago to have learnt from the poets the value of 

 this element in education. The idea of culture has always includ- 

 ed a quick and wide sympathy with nature, and particularly with 

 its living forms, a sympathy based on some accurate observation 

 of nature. 



Let us as teachers accept no single element or variety of culture 

 as the one essential ; let us remember that the best fruits of real 

 culture are an open mind, broad sympathies and respect for all the 

 diverse achievements of the human intellect at whatever stage of 

 development they may be today — ^the stage of fresh discovery, or 

 bold exploration, or complete conquest. The moral elements of 

 the new educatiou are so strong that the new forms of culture are 

 likely to prove themselves quite as productive of morality, high- 

 mindedness and idealism as the old. — From the presidential ad- 

 dress of Dr. Charles W. Eliot, before the Aatiotial Educational As- 

 sociation. 



Not only the song birds of Massachusetts are in danger of exter- 

 mination, but our best loved wild flowers as well. Everybody 

 knows that the trailing arbutus is yearly growing painfully scarce' 

 and now we read that the lily ponds, too, are having such raids 

 made upon them by people over-anxious to make a few cents clear 

 profit, that they are rapidly being cleared of the beautiful, waxen- 

 petaled flowers. In this case it cannot be said that woman's vanity 

 is to blame, unless her love of flowers and her willingness to pay 

 money for them is so construed. It is the commercial spirit, and 

 the habit of vandalism that prevails among those who take no care 

 about pulling roots and all, that does the mischief. — Lowell (Mass. ) 

 Citizen . 



