ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 The Aim of Nature Study: to Develop the Individual Child. 



PAGE 



I. WHY INTRODUCE NATURE STUDY IN THE SCHOOL ? RATHER 

 ASK, WHY STOP NATURE STUDY WHEN THE CHILD ENTERS 

 SCHOOL? ................ . . 102 



II. IMPORTANCE OF AIM IN METHOD ...... ..... 103 



A. Importance of " why" to teacher. 



B. Importance of " why " to pupil. 



III. AIMS OF NATURE STUDY ....... ....... 104 



A. Practically the same as aims of education in general . . 104 



B. Deals with the individual child ......... 105 



C. Oldest recognized aim, the acquisition of knowledge or 



facts, 



1. Has led to book-work and memorizing. 



2. Knowledge thus gained " shall vanish away." 



3. Value of knowledge gained by personal observation. 



4. Value of " nature knowledge " to geography. 



5. Weakness of knowledge as ultimate aim. 



D. Development of intellectual power a higher aim . . . 107 



1. Shown by history of work in nature study. 



2. Value of nature study as a means of developing 



power demonstrated. 



3. Value, from this point of view, as a basis for ex- 



pressive work of school. 



E. Value of knowledge and power gained through nature 



study as a preparation for practical life ...... 109 



F. Importance of interest and sympathy as an aim . . . 110 



1. Best seen when working with little children. 



2. Mere power gained through nature study may do 



harm. 



G. Higher aim is cultivation of appreciation of beauty . . 113 



1. Beauty of function and adaptation as well as beauty 



of form and color. 



2. Is a preparation for the study of literature and art. 



3. Closely related is development of ethical nature. 



H. Highest aim to lead from Nature to Nature's God . . 116 

 I. Resum^ of aims ............... 117 



1. Considering development of individual child. 



a. To awaken interest and cultivate sympathy 



with nature. 



6. To develop aesthetic, ethical, and spiritual 

 nature, and lead toward God. 



