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1905 | NaTuRE Stupy—No. 27. 127 
NATURE STUDY—No. XXVII. 
OTTAWA SUMMER SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS. 
J. H. Putman. 
The first Summer School held in Ottawa closed on July 31st 
after a most successful three weeks’ course. The work of organi- 
zation was entrusted by the Department of Education to Dr. J. F. 
White, Principal of the Normal School. Early in May Dr. White 
sent circulars to the teachers and inspectors of Eastern Ontario, 
giving an outline of the work and specifying four courses, viz :— 
Nature Study, Art, Manual Training and Domestic Science. 
About 160 students were enrolled; and, while the larger 
number came from Eastern Ontario, other parts were represented, 
several coming from Peterboro’, London, Stratford, Brantford, 
and other western points. 
A most interesting feature of the attendance was that some 
ninety of the students were teaching sisters from the various con- 
vents of Eastern Ontario. If the enthusiasm shown by these 
ladies at the Summer School is a fair criterion by which to judge 
their work, then it may safely be said that the Separate Schools of 
Ontario have many earnest and capable teachers. Their attend- 
ance also showed that they are only too ready to make sacrifices 
in order to keep fully abreast with the requirements of the most 
advanced curriculum. 
Inspector Cowley was present at the opening and gave many 
valuable suggestions on the aims of Nature Study. Mr. Cowley’s 
well-known interest in Nature Study and his success in introduc- 
ing such work into the schools under his charge, made his hearers 
feel that he spoke as one sure of the facts. 
As the OtTawA NATURALIST is most closely in touch with the 
Nature Study work, this article will deal especially with that phase 
of the Summer School. 
Principal White gave six lectures on Physical Geography. 
The aim of these was to present in a simple manner how the Earth 
has been changed from pre-historic times down to the present, to 
call attention to changes that are now going on, and by induction 
to infer the changes that will come inthe future. Special emphasis 
was laid upon the agency of rivers and streams in depositing soil 
