26 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



most important and definite results, it follows that they 

 constitute the chief motive in instruction and determine the 

 method. Such results are the more hopeful when they 

 enter into the intellectual organization of children. Some 

 of them will become more apparent when methods of 

 study are considered. 



A sustained interest in natural objects and the phenomena 

 of nature. This is the most obvious educative result, and 

 is really an opening of the world of nature to that kind of 

 joyful appreciation that comes to students of the world 

 of art, of music, or of literature. It makes life richer and 

 far more varied and is a great offset to the narrowing and 

 artificial tendencies of modern life. This is not merely 

 the nature sentiment to which reference has been made; 

 it is rather nature appreciation, which comes through a 

 certain amount of knowledge as to the significance of things, 



Independence in observation and inference. It is aston- 

 ishing how few people think for themselves or perhaps 

 think at all. The world is full of second-hand opinions, 

 and almost any vagary seems to be able to get a following. 

 Nearly everyone has learned to depend upon teachers or 

 upon books for opinions, and " authority," although often 

 unconsciously followed, is depended upon. It may be 

 the authority of a person, of an organization, or of a con- 

 vention, but it is always very real. The whole spirit of 

 nature study is one constant protest against second-hand 

 opinions, against any bondage of the book. The authority 

 appealed to is direct observation, and the inference is very 

 cautious until repeatedly tested. It is an attitude of mind 

 that first demands the facts and then suspends judgment 

 until they are all in. Such training is fundamental, for 



