212 NA TURE-STUD Y RE VIEW 



ers have asked how they are to teach humaneness and what they 

 are to teach about it. Any boy or girl who knows the life-history 

 story of a wild creature whether it be bird or beast will treat that 

 creature in an infinitely more hum.ane manner than if he knows 

 nothing about it. Children and others hate to be preached to. 

 Preaching would be unnecessary if teaching was correctly done. 

 The material outlined in these nature-study lessons should create 

 a spirit of humaneness in your school. Humaneness is common 

 sense and most htiman beings will develop common sense provid- 

 ing they have a chance. Common sense demands fair treatment 

 for all creatures and practice of the Golden Rule. If a gener- 

 ation of children with greater common sense can be developed, 

 the ideas of conservation and patriotism will take care of them- 

 selves. But first of all to have common sense in matters of this 

 sort, the teachers must have some knowledge and the present 

 outline should help them to gain it. 



The Required Work. 



Instead of requiring that certain animals, birds and insects 

 be studied each year, this outline requires that at least one ex- 

 ample of each type be studied at some time during the year. One 

 lesson niay conveniently consider one or two types and with 

 a minimum, of two lessons a week through the year there should 

 be no difficulty in covering the ground. Much of the work may 

 be conveniently co-related with geography, drawing and language 

 and suggestions to this end are incorporated in the outline. 



This outline has not been drauni up for the sake of making 

 extra work for teachers. . It has been developed to grant the 

 requests for assistance which have come from niral school teach- 

 ers actually in service in rural schools in New York State and 

 in Iowa. The system is not a dream which ought to work. The 

 ideas have been tried and found not wanting. Without exception 

 the plan has had the approval of teachers and superintendents 

 who have looked it over and if the rural teachers of the state in 

 their work find any way in which it can be improved or can point 

 out any particularly weak spots you are asked to write me about 

 it. Without question, it can be improved. It must not be 

 judged too quickly. The plan must be given a fair trial and the 

 teachers may count upon the cooperation of the Supervisor 



