What is Nature-Study? 5 



objects: to discover new truth for the purpose 

 of increasing the sum of human knowledge; or 

 to put the pupil in a sympathetic attitude toward 

 nature for the purpose of increasing his joy of 

 living. The first object, whether pursued in a 

 technical or elementary way, is a science-teach- 

 ing movement, and its professed purpose is to 

 make investigators and specialists. The second 

 object is a nature-study movement, and its pur- 

 pose 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 

 formal 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 intentions or motives are distinct — they 

 should be contrasted rather than compared. 

 The nature-study method is a fundamental and, 

 therefore, a general educational process; the 

 formal science-teaching method Is adapted to 

 mature persons and to those who would know a 

 particular science. 



