Who First Used the Term? 21 



under the presidency of Francis W. Parker. 

 This introduction was made by the late Wilbur 

 S. Jackman, whose teaching and writing in 

 nature-study lines are well known. In 1884 

 Mr. Jackman began teaching biology in the 

 Pittsburg High School. During five years' con- 

 nection with that school he became strongly 

 impressed with the necessity of having a broad 

 foundation laid in the elementary grades for 

 the study of science. The pupils were ignorant 

 of the simplest phenomena that occurred about 

 them. In the spring of 1889 he planned a gen- 

 eral course in nature-study and presented it to 

 the superintendent and the principals of the 

 ward schools in Pittsburg. It was agreed that 

 in the fall he should have the privilege of meet- 

 ing the teachers for the purpose of starting this 

 work in the primary and grammar grades. 

 Before the year closed, however, he received 

 an invitation from Colonel Parker to enter the 

 Cook County Normal School and take up the 

 work with him. He entered on the work in 

 the Cook County Normal School in the fall of 

 1889. During this year (1889) he elaborated 



