— 33i — 



Nous reproduisons ici les documents manuscrits envoyés à la Com- 

 mission ; pour les autres documents ayant servi en partie aux discussions, 

 nous renvoyons aux sources citées plus haut. 



Curriculum of the Botany Teaching in the Mixed Rural 



Elementary Schools of La Montesca 



and Rovigliamo, Città di Castello. Umbria. 



Thèse schools hâve for some years been striving to establish a t\pc of rural school 

 in vvhich without any change of officiai programme, subjects are introducted to prépare 

 children for life as intelligent workers of the soil. 



Nature Study forms the basis of the whole work, and an extract froin its pro- 

 gramme is hère given. We cannot présume to cal! this instruction « Botanv , but it con- 

 tains those essential facts of the science which we consider every child, and especially 

 a country child, shouid know and observe. 



The whole study is carried out practically and experimentally, the exhibits of the 

 practical work are be on view in the Italian Section of the International Exibition in 

 Brussels. 



Beginning from the lowest classes we may divide the study as follows : — 



1) Accurate observation of plant forms and seasonal changes. 



2) The lifes of individual plants as « types ». 



3) Conditions of plant life in gênerai. 



4) Supplementary work in the school gardens and on excursions. 



1) Accurate observation of plant forms and seasonal changes. 



The first work of the child consistes in the making of tlie School Calendar ». 

 The children bring daily to school whatever has interested thcni on tiicir w ay there (c. g. 

 leaves, twigs, flowers, etc.). After a discussion one child is chosen to draw her object in 

 the calendar. This gives occasion not only for the accurate observation > of the parti- 

 cular spécimen, but also for the study of the laws of nature which nianifest t'iemselves 

 in such phenomena as seasonal changes, leaffall, ofening buds, etc. 



Further the children make collections, leaves for instance, arranged eithcr with 

 regard to their shape, thcir margins, their colour, the order in which thcy fall, etc 



2) The lifes of individual plants as « types ». 



Each child in spring receives its own vase and seed and noiibook. Ha\ing examiiicd 

 and drawn the seed, he plants it and watches its development of to the production of 

 seed, carefuly noting each change in drawing and writing (Storia del mio scmc). 



