MACKAY] NATURE-STUDY IN NOVA SCOTIA 151 



to some extent, actually observed or verified for themselves. 

 Many books on the list recommended for school libraries (see 

 October Journal of Ed., 1903) are useful guides to the teacher for 

 portions of the work prescribed in some of the grades. There 

 should be a short *' Nature Lesson " given every day on the 

 daily collections and observations of the pupils themselves — not 

 on the statements of teachers or books — the lesson always being 

 based on the objects or observations. These guide books are to 

 be used only to show the teacher how to give such lessons. They 

 are entirely prohibited as text-books for either pupil or teacher, 

 for under no circumstances should " notes " from the books be 

 given to pupils. All such studies must be from the objects. Ob- 

 servations under this head form some of the best subjects for 

 English composition or drawing exercises in all grades. 



" In schools with pupils of several grades under one teacher 

 (as in most rural schools) many of these lessons may profitably 

 engage the whole school. In nearly all, either the whole senior 

 or whole junior divisions of the school can take part. A skilful 

 teacher can thus give profitable object lessons to several grades of 

 scholars at once ; at one time giving a Grade V lesson, at another 

 time a Grade V^I or Grade VII or Grade VIII lesson, which 

 will also contain enough for the observation and interest of Grade 

 I, Grade II, Grade III, and Grade IV pupils. An object lesson 

 given to the highest class can thus to a certain extent be made 

 a good lesson for all the lower classes. The older pupils will see 

 more and think more. 



" It must be remembered that the memorizing of notes and 

 facts merely stated to pupils is strictly forbidden under this head. 

 Such memorizing is pure cram, injurious instead of being useful. 

 The teacher may not have time to take up in class every object 

 indicated in the Nature Lessons of the course. In such cases 

 the pupils should be given two or three objects nearly related to 

 the typical specimen examined in school with directions to search 

 for and examine them at home as illustrated in the specimen class 

 lesson. Without much expenditure of time the teacher can note 

 that this work has been honestly attempted to be done by each 

 pupil. The lessons must be direct from nature itself, but under 

 the guidance of the teacher who can save time in bringing the 

 pupils to the point desired by his more mature experience. They 

 are intended to train the observing and inductive faculties, to 



