96 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [11:3— Mar., 1915 



The pleasures that nature furnishes are of almost universal 

 application, in that nearly everyone may derive some pleasure 

 therefrom, if attention is called in school to these possibilities and 

 children are taught to know the common forms of life that every- 

 where surround them. No special training is needed to enjoy 

 these pleasures, and they are free to all. 



The relative stress to be laid upon the various aims must evi- 

 dently depend upon the age of the child. The esthetic aim should 

 be the dominant one for young children, and relatively less im- 

 portant for the older children, but should, however, be kept in 

 mind thruout all the grades. 



Economic Aim — Somewhat in contrast with the esthetic aim 

 stands the economic aim, dealing with practical affairs. In the 

 great variety of wild life are found both beneficial and injvirious 

 forms, the former of which should be protected, and the latter 

 destroyed or controlled. 



Among the birds we find that the great majority are beneficial, 

 altho a few are injurious. Among insects are found some of man's 

 worst enemies. In the vegetable garden, in the fruit garden, 

 among the field crops, and in the household are troublesome and 

 serious pests, which must be controlled. Some are even dangerous 

 to human life. On the other hand there are many insects of great 

 value to mankind. Weeds are another great pest not only to the 

 farmer and gardener, but to the town dweller as well. 



Every citizen needs to know something of the economic aspects 

 of these ntimerous forms of life, in order that he may guide his 

 actions more efficiently. 



Gardening has an economic aspect worthy of careful considera- 

 tion. The constant upward trend in the cost of living presents a 

 serious problem for the great majority of people. A garden, even 

 tho small, may be one factor in helping to reduce the cost of living, 

 and at the same time may furnish the most healthful kinds of food. 



There are many phases of so called physical nature-study, such 

 as the telegraph, the telephone, the steam engine, the motor, which 

 play so vital a part in modem life that some knowledge of their 

 significance is essential to an intelligent existence amid present day 

 surroundings. 



The economic aim may be kept in mind to some extent in the 

 intermediate grades, and may share with the social aim the domin- 

 ant place in the grammar grades. 



