Report of the Executive Committee 31 



It appears that the feature which has been specially 

 developed in the biological training of Essex teachers is the 

 practical work of the students themselves. This is carried 

 on — according to definite instructions — in observational 

 lessons and rambles which have almost completely super- 

 seded the set lecture. The following extracts with regard 

 to the preparation given by the Essex County Council for 

 Nature-study teaching are of interest : — 



** The proposed rambles will enable teachers, anxious to give effect to 

 the recommendations of the Board of Education, opportunities of gaining 

 some helpful experience in the methods adopted in the Study of Nature 

 in the field, and an insight into the way in which plants grow, espe- 

 cially in their relations with their environment ; the influence of exter- 

 nal conditions, such as light, heat, and moisture, upon their form ; the 

 mutual relationships between plants and animals ; the influence of one 

 organism upon another. . . . 



"A type collection would naturally be arranged in botanical order, 

 but duplicates might be used for special fascicles representing, for 

 example, 'meadow plants', 'corn-field weeds', &c. The collection of 

 such plants would give very pleasant recreation to boys and girls 

 possessed of the naturalist's spirit, and afford the teacher excellent 

 opportunities for unconventional instrtiction in Nature- study. ^^ 



The work of the Derbyshire County Council was also 

 represented in this group, and with regard to it the follow- 

 ing remarks were made: — 



"It is generally admitted that before much can be done in the rural 

 elementary schools — day and evening — the teachers must be suitably 

 trained, and as a beginning in this direction the work of Saturday 

 teachers' classes and summer courses in such subjects as Plant and 

 Insect Life, organized by county councils, is important. 



"The little collection of lantern slides, illustrating 'The Story of a 

 Piece of Limestone ', was sent mainly with the object of showing that 

 many excellent geological illustrations can be found by a little search 

 amongst the various sets of the dealers, supplemented by original local 

 photographs which a good teacher will often be able to supply. It 

 need hardly be said that photographs should only supplement and not 

 be instead of actual field-work in this subject. With a large class the 

 lantern is at times a useful aid, but I often find teachers using slides 



