HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 9 



room, and make it a reward of merit for a pupil to be allowed 

 to watch them during school hours. 



Sometime during the year have a public exhibition of speci- 

 mens and class work so as to gain the cooperation of the chil- 

 dren's parents and older brothers and sisters. At the end of 

 the year leave suggestions for study and observation which the 

 pupils can follow up during the summer vacation. 



Write to the Bureau of Nature Study, Cornell University, 

 Ithaca, N.Y., for information about forming a nature study 

 club among the pupils. 



Knowledge required in Nature Study. — The object of nature 

 study is not so much to get present knowledge as to develop 

 the power and love of observation by which knowledge may 

 be gained in after life. The teacher should never substitute 

 lecturing for observation and investigation. Any one can 

 observe specimens without possessing previous knowledge of 

 what is seen. The greatest success is attained by those teachers 

 who, whether or not they have had previous knowledge of the 

 subject, are learners with their pupils. In the study of the 

 great " Book of Nature," the best that a teacher or jjupil can 

 do is to read a few of its pages, and to get from them the 

 inspiration to continue the reading. 



