66 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [16:2— Feb., 1920 



It is easy enough to say to a teacher, "Teach conservation" or 

 "Teach patriotism" but it is another thing for that teacher to instil 

 into her pupils the spirit back of these words. This cannot be done 

 by the teaching of definitions or by requiring that children memor- 

 ize set rules drawn up by others. Greater reliance may be placed 

 upon the individual who comes to a conclusion himself as to what 

 is right and what is just than upon the one who learns a statement 

 but has no evidence to back up the truth of that statement. 



The editor of the Leaflet aims to teach conservation and respect 

 for natural and civic laws by organizing nature-study material in an 

 attractive and logical manner. If this is done effectively a child 

 following the work cannot help but realize that besides being 

 responsible for his own prosperity he owes a similar responsibility 

 to others ; that he is a part of a balance which for his own happiness 

 and that of others of this and future generations must not be upset. 



Each of the children's ntmibers is organized in such a manner 

 that that part appearing first may be used by the younger children. 

 The most difficult material is placed last. In this manner a child 

 may grade himself by the extent to which he may master the 

 material given. Each number aims to deal with one particular 

 field of nature-study so that the nature-study period in the rural 

 school will have a unity of interest, the difference being merely a 

 question of the amount of ability necessary to attain the ends 

 asked for in the outline. 



Tobe more definite an outline of the organization of the subject 

 matter in the January and March numbers of this year, may prove 

 practical. The January number aims, primarily, to teach the 

 relation of fur-bearing animals to man's interests and the March 

 number aims to teach the relation of natural water resources to 

 man's interests. To avoid confusion let us consider the January 

 number first: 



In this number a great deal of weight is given to the study of 

 tracks of mammals and birds in snow. To assist in this a page is 

 given showing the tracks made by the common winter mammals 

 and birds of New York State. In each case the form starts from 

 a stand still and proceeds at an increasing rate of speed to the right. 

 To assist further in identification two pages entitled "From the 

 Gang-plank of a New York State Noah's Ark" show the appearance 

 of the imprint made by each bird's foot and by the fore and hind 

 foot of each mammal. These pages are used to assist in inter- 



