76 ‘THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [June 
and work for the achievement of his purpose, and he is willing to 
take considerable pains in gaining skill which will enable him to, 
attain his end quickly and effectively. 
With such anattitude the child naturally finds the laboratory 
work of the High School distasteful, but he takes to certain forms 
of Nature Study as instinctively as the duck to the water. The 
life-history of birds, trees and insects, the adaptation of each to 
its environment, the relation of each to his own life, the care of 
animals and plants—these and similar subjects, if presented in the 
right way possess an irresistible charm to him. 
These characteristics of child-nature furnish a key to the 
material and the method of study which should be selected during 
those early years. ie 
It may be noted in this connection that such study may be 
quite as scientific as laboratory work. If we accept the dynamic — 
definition of Science as that which furnishes insight to interpret 
a new situation, we must admit that the child who mtelligently 
and perseveringly studies the life history of a bird or plant and 
acquires skill in the control of the life process, is proceeding 
scientifically even though he never perform a laboratory experi- 
ment. Further, there is reason to believe that if the child omits 
such study during childhood when the impulse is at its height he 
will never again be able to atone for his neglect. 
As the attitude, during this entire period constantly progresses. 
toward the more thoughtful attitude of youth there should simi- 
larly be a constantly increasing emphasis upon the conventional 
side and particularly upon the development of skill. The need 
for such experimental investigation will be realized most readily 
by the child when there is a selection of material which lies very 
close to his own life interest, for example, the study of the effects 
of various kinds of food upon pet animals, of heat, light and 
moisture upon plants, or the humane extinction of injurious 
insects. These subjects may be treated from the functional — 
standpoint without any tendency to commercialism. Such 
studies enlist the interest of the parent in the work of the school. 
They prevent and cure habits of vandalism and cruelty, and develop 
in the child a spirit of co-operation and helpfulness, which is the 
highest aim of education. 
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