METHODS 13 



The Educational Value of zoological studies can not 

 be overestimated. They furnish the means of bringing 

 nature and the child into direct contact, so that he may 

 actually acquire some knowledge by his own powers of 

 perception. Froebel says, " We do not feel the meaning 

 of what we say, for our speech is made up of memorized 

 ideas based neither on perception nor on productive effort." 



Animal life properly studied develops not only the facul- 

 ties of acquisition, but likewise the powers of reflection or 

 reasoning and expression. Essay writing and memoriter 

 recitations are too often wearisome, but if the pupil has 

 learned something of vital interest concerning an animal's 

 life history, habits, and struggle for existence, he will find 

 pleasure in relating his discoveries to his classmates, and 

 thereby will experience a splendid training in the use of 

 intelligent English. 



The Ethical Value to be derived from the study of 

 zoology depends largely on how the subject is taught. 

 Much evil is wrought in our land through ignorance. 

 Youth seldom stop to think how much harm is done when 

 they ruthlessly destroy life. The maiming of a single 

 bird may mean death to many little ones. A careful esti- 

 mate shows that only about half as many birds exist to-day 

 as were present in our country a quarter of a century ago. 

 One chief factor causing the decrease has been ignorance 

 on the part of the people who have sanctioned the robbing 

 of nests and killing of birds. Every boy and girl should 

 go forth from school imbued with the idea that the killing 

 of our best friends in the animal world merely to satisfy a 

 savage instinct is a crime. A face to face acquaintance 

 with the creatures of earth should gain many warm ad- 



