Who First Used the Term? 23 



for Common Schools," and this term has been 

 used continuously ever since. 



Another, and an independent, movement 

 started nearly simultaneously in Massachusetts, 

 under the leadership of Arthur C. Boyden, now 

 Vice-Principal of the State Normal School at 

 Bridgewater, Mass. In 1889 a committee was 

 appointed in the Plymouth County Teachers' 

 Association to recommend a plan of introducing 

 nature-study into the schools of the county. 

 For a number of years previous to this time a 

 definite series of lessons on minerals, plants and 

 animals had been taught in the Bridgewater 

 Normal School, and many superintendents and 

 teachers who graduated from the school were 

 teaching the subjects in various parts of the 

 county. It seemed to be the time for a con- 

 certed plan of work, and a few persons who 

 were interested in it took this means of starting. 

 An outline for the study of trees was prepared 

 and sent to every school in the county, with 

 provisions for a report from each town at the 

 next annual meeting. This plan was continued 

 for a number of years, and usually an exhibition 



