118 THE NATURE STUDY COURSE. 



Physiology. — ( This must be taken. J 



1. The kidneys and the skin and their duties. 



2. The care of the skin. 



3. Stimulants and narcotics. 



4. The nervous system. 



5. The senses. 



6. Health and disease. 



Nature Study should be both Intensive and Exten- 

 sive. — Education through Nature Study takes place along two 

 quite different lines, — the close, almost exhaustive study of one 

 topic or a few topics carried on concurrently with open-eyed 

 attention to much or everything in the child's surroundings 

 that is capable of exciting his interest. Only mentioning these 

 two lines will suggest to teachers the special and complemen- 

 tary values of each. M. C. Dickerson, the teacher of Nature 

 Study in the Rhode Island Normal School, writes that : — 

 "Nature Study will never accomplish what it is capable of 

 accomplishing . . . until the number of topics studied is 

 sacrificed somewhat to thoroughness and inductive method. 

 Observation and interpretation to be effective must concen- 

 trate attention for a considerable length of time." In the 

 matter of making field excursions, even with Normal School 

 students, the writer found it extremely advisable to propose 

 the trip for a definite purpose. Scores of things were 

 sure to claim subordinate notice but the special purpose 

 of the trip was kept in the forefront of attention. If this 

 government or subordination of interests is important for 

 a class of teachers, it is nothing short of necessary for a class 

 of public school pupils This maintaining of prominent 

 interest and attention through a series of studies upon a 

 single topic at a time avoids in large part the desultoriness to 

 which inexpert teaching of Nature Study is liable. (Page 1 65). 



