722 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



consideration of the characteristic flora, fauna, and peo- 

 ples of the various regions, by a study of industry and 

 commerce and of various physical phenomena. Still, 

 however, the stress was laid upon description, and so 

 long as this prevailed, geography could justly be called 

 *a composite of sciences' and not a true and separate 

 branch of knowledge. 

 "As defined by modem education leaders in that study, 



FIG. 8. GOLDENROD STUNG BY A PARASITE 



Children can always be interested in such a specimen as is here 

 shown, especially when the teacher explains how plants behave 

 after having received certain injuries. 



geography has a central idea of its own ; that basic idea 

 is the factor of relationship between the Earth upon 

 which we live and the life which is lived upon the Earth. 

 We may study on one hand the physical factors of situa- 

 tion, climate, topography and natural resources of a re- 

 gion; on the other hand the plant, lower animal, and 

 human life which occurs in that region ; yet we have 

 not attained to true geography until we have discerned, 

 in part at least, how the life which we describe is shaped 

 and directed by the physical conditions of its environ- 

 ment. * * Nature Study, beside being in itself a 

 desirable portion of our curriculum, is also an essential 

 preliminary to geography. The knowledge which is 

 gained through nature study, the habit of observation 

 which it fosters, the love of the beauty and plan of the 



great outdoors, are all valuable for sane and complete 

 living, and are also indispensable to a satisfactory basis 

 for geographic thought. 



"The value of geographic study was amply proved 

 during the World War; a study of true geography is 

 even more necessary in peace, as the economic relations 

 of the world again approach normal conditions." 



Too much cannot be said in favor of the valuable book- 

 let Mr. Wheeler has added to the literature of this sub- 

 ject ; indeed, it is a masterpiece in its treatment, highly 

 indicative of American enterprise and advanced thought. 



The Elementary Schools of the City of New York also 

 has a wonderfully fine treatise on a "Course of Study in 

 Nature and Environment," as adopted by the Board of 

 Education on the 26th of June, 1918, and by the city's 

 I'oard of Superintendents on the 18th day of May, 1920. 

 It is entitled "A Syllabus in Nature and Environment," 

 and treats the subject thoroughly and satisfactorily. 



On the 8th of June. 1921, Mr. Eugene A. Nifenecker, 



FIG. 9. A FIELD STUDY FOR THE CLASS 



Here a common Pasture Thistle stands out in the clear; the class 

 may assemble about it, the teacher telling them the story of its 

 growth, its place in classification, how its seeds are distributed, 

 and what insects visit it. 



Director of Reference, Research, and Stastistics of New 

 York City and a member of the Board of Education, 

 sent me a most interesting and valuable letter on this 



