24 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [3 : i-jan., 1907 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 



[Editorial Note. — Repeating from a note in the first issue of this journal, 

 the editors invite free and frank and friendly discussion of all papers published. 

 It is to be understood that each writer presents his ideas through this magazine 

 in order to get the commendation or helpful criticism from other workers on 

 similar lines. Therefore, let us have more freedom in the use of this department 

 for correspondence; and if you agree or disagree with any writer do not hesitate 

 to say so. Also if you are to be really helpful do not forget to tell us the reason 

 why for your views. 



The letters below follow in the order of receipt at the office of the editor.] 



DR. HORNADAY'S "THE WEAKNESS IN NATURE-STUDY"' 



I 



Dr. Hornaday took for the text of his paper the statement made editorially 

 that nature-study is disorganized and not yet established in our school system. 

 This obviously refers to practice rather than to principles or methods; see the 

 discussion of this point in the first article of this issue. 



M. A. BiGELow. 



II 



My attention has been called to the admirable article of Dr. W. T. Horn- 

 aday in your journal. Allow me to congratulate you upon its clear recogni- 

 tion of facts as they exist and its timeliness in the condition of our schools. 

 As matters stand at the present day, I am convinced that the great need of 

 students in* all our various lines of science is systematic knowledge; that a cor- 

 rect understanding of facts obtained at second hand from a text-book is much 

 better than a chaotic mixture of those facts without the sense of proportion, 

 obtained by methods frequently in vogue; and that to the pupil who starts 

 with a good general picture in his own mind, it is easier to add details by 

 observation than it is to correct the errors and mistakes which result from 

 being taught from the beginning to overvalue the knowledge acquired at first 

 hand. 



President's Office, Arthur T. Hadley. 



Yale University. 



Ill 



If getting acquainted with the facts were the main object of nature-study, 

 I should think that Dr. Hornaday's plan, or any other plan which directs 



'See The Review for October, 1906. 



