20 The Nature- Study Idea 



Shaler. He was a student of science, but his 

 views of science-teaching in the elementary 

 school underwent gradual but decided change 

 under the Pestalozzian influence in which he was 

 placed. He saw the insufficiency of "object 

 teaching" as an educational process. The de- 

 fects he sought to overcome by "correlation of 

 the subjects of study." As director of the 

 practice school, he worked out his ideas of cor- 

 relation in "nature" subjects and geography 

 subjects. His work included the study of the 

 common things in the neighborhood. In 1883 

 Professor Straight went to the Cook County 

 (111.) Normal School and taught there until 

 his death, in 1886. He had great influence in 

 developing the ideals of this institution, and 

 was given credit therefor by Colonel Parker, 

 the distinguished head of the school. So far as 

 I know, however, Professor Straight did not 

 use the term "nature-study." 



The introduction of elementary science as an 

 organic part of school work, ranking with arith- 

 metic and grammar, was made in the Cook 

 County (111.) Normal School as early as 1889, 



