PREFACE. 



THE aim of this book is entirely practical in the sense 

 that the classroom and its needs have been reckoned with 

 throughout. It is a book intended to assist teachers of 

 Nature Study, and sets before them the ideals which the 

 author after a number of years' experience has come to 

 regard as the most worthy. The value of the work is 

 enhanced by the inclusion of an Introduction by Professor 

 J. Arthur Thomson, whose approval of the educational 

 soundness of its aims and methods constitutes an 

 authoritative recommendation of importance, and one 

 which is sincerely appreciated by the author. 



Besides setting forth educational ideals the work offers 

 guidance in the planning of courses in keeping with these ; 

 by means of fairly numerous and varied illustrations it 

 suggests methods of teaching and generally indicates the 

 best means which in the opinion of the author tend to the 

 attainment and maintenance of efficiency in this subject. 

 In the Courses framed and in the notes given elsewhere, 

 e.g. in Chapters XXV., XXVL, and XXVII., the require- 

 ments of teachers in training for Rural School work in 

 Scotland have been kept in view. To this extent practical 

 values of Nature Study have been borne in mind. 



While the needs of the classroom have been kept in 

 view in the sense that the work suggested is such as can 

 be carried out without disorganisation of the school 



