THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO ALL SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF NATURE IN 

 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 



Published monthly, except June, July and August. Subscription price, including mem- 

 bership m the American Nature Study Society, $1.00 per year (nine issues). Canadian postage, 

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Editorial 



Prescriptive vs. Suggestive Nature-Study Courses 



A common point of view has been that the course in nature-study 

 should never be other than suggestive, that is, it should not be 

 prescriptive. In the early stages of the nature-study movement, 

 such a course was justified for several reasons : the field was new ; 

 the material was plentiful, but untried; the teachers and super- 

 visors were inexperienced. 



This type of course of study has given results somewhat as 

 follows: Some schools and communities are doing fine work in 

 nature-study, chiefly those in which the principal is a leader, 

 planning the work for his school. In other schools certain rooms 

 are doing good work. In such case the individual teacher is an 

 enthusiast in nature-study, possibly because she has been well 

 trained in this field, possibly because she has found this subject 

 helpful in the other studies. In other schools the work is neglected , 

 or if done, it is performed in a highly perfunctory manner. 



Among the dangers of the suggestive course of study are the 

 following: Such a study cannot compete in the daily program 

 with the studies having required matter. The tendency of the 

 teacher is to fail to make careful preparation in matter that is 

 optional. In such a course of study the steps from poor prepara- 

 tion to neglect and then to omission are few and easily found by 

 many teachers. 



The advantages of a prescribed course are these : The teacher 

 can plan her work from term to term. She knows what may 

 reasonably be expected from her. She is encouraged to prepare 



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