296 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [11:6— Sept., 1915 



thinj^s, the rest merely looking on; but for the raising of the 

 standard of enjoyment of life for every boy and girl, man and wo- 

 man in the community. "Games are games and healthful and 

 recreative," says G. K. Chesterton, "so long as everyone wants 

 to join in them; when they become an art, everyone wants to 

 look on." 



' The school may lead in the cultivation of a spirit of coopera- 

 tion and community of aim, * 



"When none were for a Party 



But all were for the State," as in 

 "The brave days of old," 



lead in the cultivation of song, in the study of history and 

 literature and in questions of national import, giving to those 

 who through stress of circumstances had been obliged to leave 

 school at an early age, an opportunity to improve their knowledge 

 of these things, making thereby for a more enlightened community 

 through the trained intelligence of the individual members. 



The school grounds might be fitted up for sports and picnics 

 in summer, while in winter, when the long evenings and greater 

 freedom from farm work give opportunity for social intercourse, 

 the school might be the center where old and young would gather 

 for evenings instructive, entertaining, joyous, in which everyone 

 has some part. Valuable aid to the movement might be secured 

 by enlisting the cooperation of the Women's Institute, whose 

 members have earned the reputation of "doing things." Their 

 meetings might be held in the school rooms. 



As individuals differ in tastes and attainments, so do communi- 

 ties; and therefore no detailed plan may be given which would 

 suit in every section. Teachers and their aides must adapt 

 these to the needs and capacities of the people in each particular 

 case. 



Then, as in the pioneer days, when in the old log school all the 

 community met together and made merry in song and story, in 

 games and in the breaking of bread, so must gather into the much 

 more capacious and comfortable school of today, all the people 

 of the commtinity, ministering to each other's needs, harking 

 back to the good old days of neighborliness and community of 

 aim, working together for the common good; making wholesome 

 fun and sport for themselves, helping to solve the problem of 

 making life in the country satisfying to all the needs of a normal 

 human being. 



