Suggestions and Course of Study in 



reading and reflection to assimilate and integrate them 

 into a consistent theory of education. 



The distinctive features of this method of teaching 

 nature study are : (a) it does not recognize the teaching 

 of nature study as wholly synonomous with the teach- 

 ing of pure science, but primarily as a means to natural 

 mental growth; (6) it, therefore, places the individual 

 to be taught uppermost in the teacher's mind, giving 

 the subject-matter a subordinate though important 

 place; (c) it recognizes, on the one hand, the laws of 

 mental growth; and, on the other hand, places the 

 subject-matter on a scientific rather than a pseudo- 

 scientific basis. 



Some advantages of this method are : (a) it gives that 

 variety which is so essential in maintaining interest; 

 (b) it is systematic; (c) it relieves the teacher of much 

 useless waste of time in planning the general steps 

 to be taken; and enables him or her the better to 

 arrange the minuter details of the work; (d) it gives 

 the teacher every opportunity for originality; (e) while 

 it is a method it is not one that is liable to result in 

 machine teaching; (/) being natural, it becomes a 

 pleasure to observe it when properly understood. 



On the Order of Presentation. There is a natural, 

 as well as an unnatural, order of presenting the various 

 aspects of a subject. The best order is, of course, the 

 natural one. For instance, it would be unnatural to 

 take step seven before taking step one, because it is 

 contrary to the law of development, both in the in- 

 dividual and in the race. The nature of the pupil 

 and the aims we have in view determine what the 

 natural order is. The character of the particular 

 subject studied may determine the order to be pur- 

 sued during a given period; but even in these minuter 

 divisions a natural order can be detected. Within a 

 single lesson we have (i) preparation arousing the 

 pupil's interest and recalling to his mind related 



