THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



DEVOTED TO ALL PHASES OF NATURE-STUDY IN 

 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 



Vol. I JULY, 1905 No. 4 



NATURE-STUDY VERSUS AGRICULTURE 



BY W. M. HAYS 

 Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture 



In preparing pupils for the study of science and industry, three 

 main objects are to be attained : the pupil must be thoroughly and 

 permanently interested ; he must be led into the scientific method 

 of approach ; and, finally, he must be given the facts and trained 

 in the practices incident to the profession or the industry. 



The logical manner of taking up these objects might seem to 

 be with method proceeding from the first to the last ; but the 

 individuality of the pupil is the most important thing to recognize 

 and to develop. The methods and the acquisition of a body of 

 thought and of skill in doing things must center in the individual, 

 and liberty to use the means without too strict adherence to 

 sequence must be accorded, that advantage may be taken of inter- 

 est and of means as they present themselves. 



It may be wisest, as a general method of handling classes, to 

 place nature-study during the first several years of the school, 

 b)ut this should not preclude the use of every available industrial 

 fact and method of work which can be made to contribute. The 

 country boy or girl, for instance, is constantly concerned with 

 that which interests and that which develops the ability to under- 

 stand and work in the farm and home industries about him. The 

 chores in the morning and evening hours, the vacation duties on 

 Saturday and during longer vacation periods should be utilized 

 ^y•y the cooperative direction of teacher and parent. Every pass- 

 ing thing of interest should be seized upon to arouse and instruct 

 the pupils of all grades. There are many things in the rural 



