HISTORY OF NATURE-STUDY ii 



subjects should be taught. In the fall of 1890 he 

 published bi-monthly pamphlets averaging about 

 75 pages each, which were called " Outlines in 

 Elementary Science." In the spring of 1 89 1 , upon 

 the completion of the series, Henry Holt & Com- 

 pany asked the privilege of reprinting and issuing 

 them in book form. This was done. There was 

 considerable correspondence concerning the name, 

 which resulted finally in the adoption of the term 

 "Nature-Study for Common Schools," and this 

 term has been used continuously ever since. 



Another, and an independent, movement started 

 nearly simultaneously in Massachusetts, under the 

 leadership of Arthur C. Boyden, now Vice-Principal 

 of the State Normal School at Bridgewater, Mass. 

 In 1889 a committee was appointed in the 

 Plymouth County Teachers' Association to recom- 

 mend a plan of introducing nature-study into 

 the schools of the county. For a number of 

 years previous to this time a definite series of 

 lessons on minerals, plants and animals had been 

 taught in the Bridgewater Normal School, and 

 many superintendents and teachers who graduated 

 from the school were teaching the subjects in 

 various parts of the county. It seemed to be the 

 time for a concerted plan of work, and a few 

 persons who were interested in it took this means 

 of starting. An outline for the study of trees was 

 prepared and sent to every school in the county, 

 with provisions for a report from each town at 

 the next annual meeting. This plan was con- 

 tinued for a number of years, and usually an 



