12 BULLETIX 8 



on exhibition in the schools. Competitions may be arranged for best 

 collections in the point of quality and number of specimens and cor- 

 rectness of naming. Other tree groups may be taken in succession. 

 The best specimens collected by the children may be put on exhibition 

 in some public place, such as the local library, at close of the work. 



It is the aim of the plan outlined above to interest children in our 

 schools in nature for the sake of the pleasure that they get out of it. 

 It should produce interest in careful observation of nature and a de- 

 sire to learn all that they can about what they see and collect. Hasty 

 observation and uncertain identifying of specimens should be strictly 

 ruled out by the teacher or other person in charge of the work of the 

 club. In this way a premium is placed upon careful, accurate work, 

 and that should always be emphasized, rather than longest lists and 

 largest collections made. It is my personal opinion that this sort of 

 organized work, supervised by a capable person, is apt to be of at 

 least as much value as the nature study included in the ordinary school 

 curriculum. 



B. Exhibits. When it is not convenient for one person to take 

 the direction of the nature club and attend to all the details attended 

 with it, others may be enlisted in preparation of the school exhibits, 

 the identification of plants and birds, which are at all difficult to make 

 out and the assembling of choice specimens in some central place. 

 This should be a clearing house for the collections in the schools and 

 should represent the older club members as well as the school club. 

 The best illustration of this that is at hand is the exhibit maintained 

 by the Museum of Natural History at St. Johnsbury. Not only should 

 the specimens be put on exhibition correctly named, but so far as pos- 

 sible, interesting data in regard to the distribution, habits and fre- 

 quency of occurrence should appear in neat and legible labels. The 

 newspapers may be glad to co-operate by publishing on certain days 

 the lists as they are made out by the representative of the Nature 

 Club, and especial pains should be taken to give the young members 

 credit for their observations! 



C. Field trips. The trips which children may be encouraged to 

 take in small groups may be depended upon to do the most of the 

 work that is outlined above. It will be advisable, however, to organize 

 trips of the nature clubs on which children are invited to go. The 

 trips should be planned with this in view; should, therefore, not be 

 too long as to length, or too difficult. A mistake is apt to be made 



