4 THE NATURE-STUDY IDEA 



mean the world of outdoor objects and phenom- 

 ena. But all words and terms mean less or 

 more than their mere etymology would imply, 

 and this meaning is determined by usage. Now 

 usage has determined a definite office for the 

 name nature-study: it designates the movement 

 originating in the common schools to open the 

 pupil's mind by direct observation to a knowledge 

 and love of the common things in the child's 

 environment. It is a pedagogical term, not a scien- 

 tific term. It is not synonymous with the old 

 term "natural history," nor with *' biology," nor 

 with "elementary science." It is not "popular 

 science." It is not the study of nature merely. 

 Nature may be studied with either of two objects: 

 to discover new truth for the purpose of increas- 

 ing the sum of human knowledge ; or to put the 

 pupil in a sympathetic attitude toward nature for 

 the purpose of increasing the joy of living. The 

 first object, whether pursued in a technical or 

 elementary way, is a science-teaching movement, 

 and its professed purpose is to make investigators 

 and specialists. The second object is a nature- 

 study movement, and its purpose is to enable 

 every person to live a richer life, whatever his 

 business or profession may be. Nature-study is 

 a revolt from the teaching of mere science in 

 the elementary grades. In teaching-practice, the 

 work and the methods of the two intergrade, to 

 be sure, and as the high school and college are 

 approached, nature-study passes into science- 

 teaching, or gives way to it ; but the ideals are 



