8 NATURE STUDY 



Butterfly nets and a lunch add to the pleasure of the 

 occasion, but neither is an absolute necessity. 



Related Work : 



There is no doubt that some of the number work and 

 much of the reading, literature, and language should be 

 based on the science. 



The teacher, if left to herself and really interested, 

 would do this unconsciously, but imfortunately the de- 

 mands of the course of study must be heeded, and the 

 consciousness of this keeps most of us from much experi- 

 menting. 



This is especially true in the case of arithmetic. 

 I have great faith in Jackman's ideas and suggestions 

 for number, and had I a grade in my entire charge, I 

 should certainly follow in his footsteps. But I cannot 

 speak from experience, and one's own belief does not and 

 ought not to count, except to one's self in these practical 

 days. 



With regard to literature, reading, and language, I had 

 unusual opportunities to test all the inviting theories on 

 the subject. I had a typewriter and a mimeogi*aph with 

 which to make such reading lessons as I desired, and such 

 work in language as seemed to jne profitable. 



My conclusions are these: 



First : That either in reading or in language a restate- 

 ment of the lessons taught is stultifying and uninteresting. 



Second: That the study of poems or prose — real lit- 

 erature — on the object studied, or on a related subject, 

 is profitable. 



Third: That the giving of additional and interesting 

 information as silent reading is a valuable exercise from 

 every point of view. 



