220 NA T URE-ST UDY RE VIE W 



necessary to secure orderly work and good discipline. The 

 children were not allowed to run wild and perhaps this should be 

 mentioned as having had a tendency to keep their minds engaged 

 with the work at hand. 



It is hardly necessary to point out the splendid opportunities 

 of "correlation" which this work offered for reading, writing, 

 singing, manual training, drawing and literature. The chances 

 for observation of the life cycle of plant and animal, the stretching 

 out of the interests of the children through harvesting and thresh- 

 ing their wheat, selling eggs and lettuce (with the worthy object 

 of maintaining their pets on the proceeds). 



I did not copy from my notes anything concerning the flowers 

 of courtesy, helpfulness and unselfishness which showed weak 

 and spasmodic signs of blooming but the signs were there and in 

 abundance. 



Finally it seems to me well worth while to take a little time 

 from the formal work of the school to give the children that 

 preparation, that foundation which must be given now if ever, 

 which will open their eyes to the loveliness of common things and 

 their hearts to the beauty and the high privilege, the highest that 

 comes to any human being, that of nurturing life. 



Ferns 



When Zenith-high the sun of August bums, 

 How fresh and cool the frondage of the ferns ! 

 Aisle upon waving aisle behold^ them stand, — 

 A forest shade for folk of Fairy-land. 



— Clinton Scollard 



