CHAPTER XXVIII. 



SCHOOL EdUIPMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT. 



AESTHETIC SURROUNDINGS. 



WE have emphasised as an important aim in these 

 studies the cultivation of an appreciation of the aesthetic 

 aspects of nature. This aim is to be attained in a measure 

 by passive means, and of these aesthetic surroundings play 

 an important part. 



Outside the school, if there is a garden, let it be as far 

 as possible a garden beautiful, with trees, shrubs, and 

 flower-beds well kept. In planning such a garden, how- 

 ever small it may be, try to plan it so that the practical 

 experimental plots do not occupy too obtrusive a place. 

 In school gardening cultivate an interest in flowers as well 

 as vegetable?. 



Within the school grow ferns and flowers in pots and 

 have cut flowers in season. Pains should be taken to rear 

 healthy and beautiful plants. Further, as already sug- 

 gested, it is important that such plants be used for lesson 

 purposes, and that the pupils should learn, something of 

 their nature and general life-history. These objects will 

 thus be noticed more closely, and are thus more likely to 

 exercise a beneficent influence upon the pupils. The ideal 

 under this head should be the existence of an aesthetic 

 atmosphere about the school, or at all events about certain 

 of the classrooms which are more especially devoted to 

 nature work. 



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