254 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [10:7— Oct., 1914 



had little or no previous instruction along these lines of study, 

 therefore the student lacking a suitable foundation, is unable to 

 retain sufficient knowledge of the many subjects covered to become 

 proficient as an instructor in such courses. 



There has been little change in the attitude of school officers 

 toward the place of nature-study in the schools during this same 

 period, hence, no demand has been made for better courses. 



Many city normal schools offer a course in nature-study. 

 Teachers in these schools find the results of such courses a dis- 

 appointment because in cities where these courses are given there 

 is no systematic nature-study course in the public schools and 

 therefore only a few teachers will carry on the work in actual 

 practice. 



We wish to quote from the reports of educators who are familiar 

 with the situation regarding the preparation of teachers. 



B. O. Moore, a county superintendent in Illinois, replying to a 

 question regarding the situation in nature-study, in 1908, said, 

 "Teachers generally are not well prepared for the work, either from 

 the standpoint of knowledge or method. The present trend is 

 for the teaching of these things, and the needs are for prepared 

 teachers and some good nature-study courses that will outhne good 

 material, not all to be done, which shall be general and pedagogical 

 in nature." 



In June, 1908, a paper on The Training of Teachers of Nature- 

 Study, by M. A. Bigelow, was written and presented at a con- 

 ference of the American Nature-Study Society, Cleveland, Ohio. 

 The foil owing points with which his paper was concerned indicated 

 the direct problems before leaders of the nature-study movement 

 at that time. 



It is obvious that for the A. N. S. S. there is a three-fold work : 



(i) In securing more general agreement and understanding of 

 nature-study ideals, principles, methods and materials. 



(2) In determining how teachers of nature-study shovdd be 

 prepared. 



(3) In working for increased attention to nature-study by those 

 in charge of training schools for teachers. 



The first point considered by Professor Bigelow has practically 

 been accomplished. Nature-study outlines and books on nature- 

 study have been written, there is already an agreement of the most 

 fundamental elements in a nature-studv course and character of 



