183 



APPENDIX 



A Provisional Course in Nature Study Arranged 



by Grades. 



It IB with great hesitation that an outline of a course of nature study 

 is presented. The fear is that such a course might be considered as being 

 regarded by the authors of this book as having any virtue in it as such. 

 A course agreed upon and adopted is often apt to have its form of arrange- 

 ment clothed with an importance, or even a certain authority, which its 

 mere form in no way possesses. It is emphatically insisted upon that 

 many other arrangements of the subjects which follow here would seem 

 to be equally good, or even better than this suggested course, and further, 

 that no special arrangement is essential or should long persist. 



However, it is a matter of convenience in execution, where there is a 

 large community of schools of many grades, to arrange subjects to be 

 taken up by the various grades at various times. Such an arrangement 

 renders aid in choice of subjects, prevents confusion and undue repeti- 

 tion, and secures to all the schools provision for the work. 



The arrangement given below is based on the experience of the 

 teachers of the various schools of Oakland for the past two years, under 

 the suggestions of one of the authors and under the supervision of Miss 

 E. B. McFadden. It includes only what has been proved by actual trial 

 can be accomplished in each grade easily. 



What has succeeded in this community of schools should be equally 

 suggestive in single schools. 



To secure a oomewhat systematic planning and supervision of the 

 field of work, and at the same time the great liberty in choice to the 

 teacher so absolutely essential in this work, the subjects are arranged 

 under two heads: (1) Prescribed; (2) Elective. 



Both the Prescribed and Elective subjects are selected from what 

 experience has taught can be handled in the grades to which they are 

 assigned, and the material for which it is known can be obtained at the 

 time at which it is placed. 



