244 NA T URE ST UD Y RE VIE W [9 :8— Nov. ,1913 



show that arithmetic and reading may be in part consistently 

 correlated with nature-study topics. 



Summary: i. The above meager investigation shows that 

 nature-study is recognized as a school subject in both state and 

 city courses in all parts of the country. 



2 . There is considerable unity of purpose in the courses offered 

 by the various states and cities, namely, to bring children into 

 intelligent, sympathetic touch with daily life, and to train them in 

 a scientific attitude of mind. 



3 . The material suggested is that found in the environment of 

 the schools. The biological phase receives greatest emphasis. 

 State courses give a decided agricultural trend to the work of the 

 grammar grades. 



4. Gardening, making collections, setting up apparatus and 

 other hand work constitutes a fair proportion of the courses. 



5. Definite correlation with other school subjects is suggested 

 in the majority of the outlines. 



The outlook gained by the examination of the courses of study is 

 very encouraging. It seems evident that nature-study is finding 

 its place in our schools, a place that the formal, conventional sub- 

 jects can never fill. It is true that we are not certain that all the 

 lines of work suggested are worth while. It is also true that there 

 will probably be some shifting of topics when we have learned by 

 careful tests what best fits the needs of children at different periods 

 of their development. But those things time and study will 

 enable us to adjust. Our greatest concern now is that the teachers 

 who teach the children will realize that nature-study is different 

 from the other formal school subject, that they will appreciate the 

 fact that children may be free and individual in the work and yet 

 gain definite, practical knowledge; that they will have a strong 

 conviction that the work properly taught will help the children not 

 only to see understandingly, and to think clearly and accurately, . 

 not only to dig and hoe and plant but to appreciate law and order, 

 to find beauty and truth in the daily common places, and a never 

 ending joy in the great out-of-doors. 



