94 The Nature-Study Idea 



from the university to secondary schools, and 

 from these to the schools of the people.'* This 

 origin of "the schools of the people" from the 

 university explains why it is that these schools 

 are so unrelated to the life of the pupil, and so 

 unreal; they are exotic and unnatural. If any 

 man were to find himself in a country devoid of 

 schools and were to be set the task of originat- 

 ing and organizing a school system, he would 

 almost unconsciously introduce some subjects 

 that would be related to the habits of the peo- 

 ple and to the welfare of the community. 

 Being freed from traditions, he would teach 

 something of the plants and animals and fields 

 and people and affairs. 



So long have we taught the text-book routine 

 that we do not seem to think that there may be 

 other and better means. We may allow the 

 Greek idea of education for culture, but we 

 must have other education along with it. It 

 is possible to acquire culture at the same time 

 that we acquire power. Education for culture 

 alone tends to isolate the individual; education 

 for sympathy with one's environment tends to 



