THE AIM OF NATURE STUDY. 109 



modelling. JV'hat the children see they talk about, 

 write about, draw, mould, paint. Experience has dem- 

 onstrated beyond possibility of doubt or question that 

 when a portion of the time formerly given to the 

 formal work in language, drawing, and other expres- 

 sive studies has been devoted to nature study as a basis 

 for these expressive studies, the work in these subjects 

 has been greatly improved. 



Nature study, considered as a means or method of 

 acquiring a knowledge of our physical environment, and 

 of developing power to control our environment and 

 make it minister to our needs, is not merely an aid in 

 other school-work, but is a preparation for practical life. 



Our success in life as individuals depends to a very 

 large extent on our knowledge of and power over our 

 physical environment. Our dependence on physical 

 forces and agencies becomes greater as civilization ad- 

 vances, and man learns to better control nature. The 

 child of to-day must know more about steam and elec- 

 tricity than did the wise man of a century ago. 



Our development as a race is very largely due to the 

 fact that we have learned to harness natural forces, and 

 make them do much of our work. With the aid of 

 steam and electricity, the average man to-day can prob- 

 ably accomplish thirty times as much as did the man 

 of a century ago. 



The practical importance of a more careful study of 

 science has long been recognized in higher institutions 

 of learning, in university, college, and high school. 



