HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 91 



to do it, that they are all in the one class of 

 bipeds. You may generalize still further, since 

 the pussy cat is purring to say good-bye, as the 

 boy's father drives up with a prancing horse, that 

 cat and horse are both quadrupeds, and that the 

 elephant is likewise a quadruped. The next day 

 you may put down the whole list on the black- 

 board, and talk till you are exhausted, and the 

 children, too. And your only reward will be 

 exhaustion ! 



" But I don't care for that," with these little 

 folk. I want you to let the little fellow get ac- 

 quainted with that particular Tom-turkey, not 

 some other one, and that chicadee, that cat, that 

 horse, without reference to any other biped or 

 quadruped in the world. 



I would give more for the boy's ability to see 

 that one cat, and for his power to develop his 

 originality in his own way, and for his skill in 

 saying what he wants to say about the cat, than 

 to have him tell you of all the kangaroos and 

 lemurs and platypusses that ever ornamented the 

 finest chromo-chart that ever an enterprising 

 agent sold to your school board. 



But for that child, have something in nature- 

 viewing that will let him find himself (not be 



