52 The Nature-Study Idea 



direct, little confused by apparatus and self- 

 consciousness and side issues. 



Good nature-study teaching develops per- 

 sonality and encourages the pupil to think for 

 himself and to maintain an individual relation 

 to his world. It emphasizes adaptation to life 

 as distinguished from the tendency of much of 

 our teaching to produce uniformity of thought 

 and action. 



Nature-study not only educates, but it edu- 

 cates nature-ward; and nature is ever our com- 

 panion, whether we will or no. Even though 

 we are determined to shut ourselves in an office, 

 nature sends her messengers. The light, the 

 dark, the moon, the cloud, the rain, the wind, 

 the falling leaf, the fly, the bouquet, the bird, 

 the cockroach — they are all ours. Few of us 

 can travel. We must know the things at home. 



Nature-love tends toward simplicity of living. 

 It tends country-ward. "God made the country.'' 



Nature-study ought to revolutionize the school 

 life, for it is capable of putting new force and 

 enthusiasm into the school and the child. It 

 IS new, and therefore is called a whim. A move- 

 ment is a whim until it succeeds. We shall learn 



