II 



WHO ORIGINATED THE TERM NATURE-STUDY? 



A BRIEF history of the origin of the contem- 

 porary nature-study movement will clarify our 

 ideas as to its spirit and purpose. I am aware 

 that the history that follows is incomplete, and 

 that persons who were connected with the begin- 

 nings of it are not mentioned; but I believe that 

 the account will be useful in giving us perspective, 

 and in establishing an approximate date for the 

 first use of the term. 



I have engaged in a large correspondence for 

 the purpose of discovering something of the 

 history of the nature-study movement. Oftenest, 

 perhaps, I have been referred to the teaching of 

 Agassiz at Penikese as the beginning, at least in 

 this country. Agassiz, however, did not teach 

 nature-study in the special sense in which we use 

 this term, although he gave us the motto, " Study 

 nature, not books." He taught the study of nature 

 by the " natural method." His instruction was 

 given from the investigator's or the specialist's view- 

 point, and it was intended primarily for students 

 and adults. The present nature-study movement, 

 as I have said, is a product of the elementary 

 schools, not of universities, although many 

 university and college men have been instrumental 



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