PARAGRAPHS FOR THE TEACHER 



The purpose of this book is to lead the pupil to an 

 understanding of the vegetation of his neighborhood. 



There are four general subjects in the book: the 

 nature of the plant itself; the relation of the plant 

 to its surroundings; histological studies; determination 

 of the kinds of plants. From the pedagogical point 

 of view, the third is the least important: the writer 

 has inserted it because so many schools want it. Each 

 of the subjects is practically distinct, so that the 

 teacher may begin where he will. Few schools will 

 desire to pursue all the four parts. 



The notes in small type at the ends of the chap- 

 ters are intended as suggestions and to supply infor- 

 mation to teachers: they are not necessarily for class 

 use. The "Notes" suggest additional experiments and 

 corollary observations. 



***** 



The schools and the teachers are not ready for the 

 text-book that presents the subject from the view- 

 point of botanical science. Perhaps it is better that 

 the secondary schools attempt only to teach plants. 



A book may be ideal from the specialist's point of 

 view, and yet be of little use to the pupil and the 

 school. 



Every statement in an elementary text-book has 

 two values, the teaching value and the scientific 

 value. An elementary text exists primarily for the 



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