100 NATURE STUDY. 



be studied in its relations to man's higher nature, lead- 

 ing to the best in literature and art, and in its utili- 

 tarian or practical relations. 



Seventh. To the Creator. Nature reveals a Protec- 

 tor .and Planner, and points to a purpose and first 

 cause. Nature study misses its highest object and 

 greatest value unless it leads to that which is above 

 nature. 



JEighth. To the school and to school-work: as a 

 means of interesting and stimulating children ; as a 

 basis for expressive studies, writing, reading, draw- 

 ing, modelling, painting, arithmetic ; as a preparation 

 for and aid in geography and literature. 



If the children study nature it must be from their 

 standpoint, not from the standpoint of the mature mind. 

 Those phases of nature must be studied which are near- 

 est to the child and most strongly appeal to him. This 

 is discussed more fully in later chapters. 



It must be not merely a study of nature by the chil- 

 dren, but a study of nature by the teacher with the 

 children. In this work the teacher who depends on 

 books in her preparation will have pupils who depend 

 on their teacher. The teacher who studies nature with 

 her children fellow-investigators of truth will in- 

 spire and be inspired by her pupils. 



To sum up our definition of nature study, it is : 



NATURE not books, not mere reading or listening ; 

 nature under natural conditions ; nature living and 

 in action, not mere form and structure. 



STUDIED not glanced at or sipped, or talked about 



