34 THE NATURE STUDY COURSE. 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS OF THE NO V A SCOTIA 

 NATURE STUDY COURSE. 



Nova Scotia. —Nova Scotia has the honor of being the 

 pioneer Canadian Province to adopt a systematic Nature 

 Study Course. Superintendent MacKay writes that the idea 

 has been in the provincial course of study ever since 1880. 

 It began with the observation of forms chiefly, but has 

 developed into the observation very largely of action. For 

 several years records of biological and meteorological facts 

 that can be accurately observed, such as first flowerings, bird- 

 migrations, thunderstorms, frosts, etc., have been made by 

 the pupils, summarized by the teachers, and forwarded to the 

 Education Department for compilation. He testifies to the 

 value of these phenological exercises to the pupils themselves 

 and incidentally for the use of future students of the biology 

 and meteorology of the Province. 



The following general directions are in the hands of every 

 school board and teacher in the Province of Nova Scotia : — - 



"Nature Study. — The noting, examination and study of the 

 common and more important natural objects and laws of Nature as 

 they are exemplified within the range of the school section or of tho 

 pupils' observation. Under this head, pupils should not be required to 

 memorize notes or facts which they have not, at least to some extent, 

 actually observed or verified for themselves. There should be a short 

 * Nature Lesson ' given every day on the daily collections and observa- 

 tions of the pupils themselves — not on the statement of teachers or 

 books— the lesson always being based on the objects or observations. 

 Many books on the list recommended for school libraries are Useful 

 guides to the teacher for portions of the work prescribed in some of the 

 grades. These guide books are to be used only to show tho teachers 

 how to give such lessons. They are entirely prohibited as text-l>ooks 

 for either pupil or teacher, for under no circumstances should ' notes' 

 from the books be given to pupils. All such studios must be from the 

 objects. Observations under this head form some of tho best subjects 

 for English composition or drawing exercises in all grades. 



