ON EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS LIFE. 277 



Elementary and Secotidary Schools. 



' (a) A course of nature study is outlined for the lower grades of the Elementary 

 Schools, and serves as an introduction to geography ; a more advanced course in 

 nature study serves as elementary science in the middle grades. A course in 

 agriculture based on nature study is prescribed for the top grades, and is designed 

 to provide opportunity for the organisation of the information gained by the pupils 

 through direct observation. 



' (6) Agriculture in the High School presents another phase of the problem. What 

 should be the nature of such a subject ? Clearly it must cease to be of the nature- 

 study type, and assume a more scientific form. After many trials and readjustments 

 it has been incorporated as an integral part of the science course of the first two 

 years, and is compulsory for all students. In the third year it is an elective subject 

 on a par with physics, chemistry, or home economics, i.e. it is merged with chemistry, 

 physics, and biology in the first two years, but emerges again in the third year on a 

 par with physics and chemistry as an optional subject for examination. 



' Thus we have nature study, which aims to make the fullest use of the environ- 

 ment of the pupil, occupying the basic position. And since most of the population 

 live on the land, and the rest are directly dependent upon the success of farming opera- 

 tions, agriculture is the predominant factor in that environment, with the result 

 that it colours and enriches the whole content of the nature study.' 



Aim. 



' The instruction should be such as to bring the life and interests of the school 

 more closely into touch with the home life of the pupil. His capacity to enjoy life 

 should be increased by training his powers of observation, and by developing a 

 sympathetic acquaintance with the things of nature. Through the practice work 

 which must necessarily accompany proper instruction in this subject, useful informa- 

 tion will be gained, and a respect for farm labour developed. The work should go 

 far to promote the qualities that make for good citizenship, such as consideration 

 for the rights of others, and the principles of co-operation in seeking the common 

 good.' 



Method. 



' The method employed should place the child in contact with natural objects 

 with which he is familiar, and lead him to seek his information from them by the use 

 of his senses. The teacher should direct and assist rather than instruct. He should 

 find out what is known, and direct to the unnoticed and unknown. He should gather 

 from the pupil the "what" and the "how" of phenomena and lead him to seek the 

 "why." The expression of what has been observed may take the form of oral or 

 written composition, drawing, modelling, or any other form appropriate to the 

 matter.' 



Content or Syllabus 



The outline of the work is as follows : — 



First Year — Part of Science Course. 



' Soil water : experiments to find soluble matter in soil, to measure rainfall ; 

 consideration of annual precipitation and of conservation of soil moisture. 



' Seeds : structure of the seed and seedlings of the common plants of the district, 

 such as pea, bean, corn, wheat, oat, weeds ; dispersal of seeds ; germination ; 

 conditions necessary for germination ; seed-testing. 



' Experiments to show : (a) test for carbon dioxide ; (b) that carbon dioxide is 

 given off during germination ; (c) that seeds contain starch. 



' The plant : forms and functions of roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits of the 

 common plants of the district, such as pea, bean, corn, wheat, oat, barley, carrot, 

 turnip, weeds. 



' Experiments to illustrate osmosis, transpiration, respiration, starch-making and 

 constituents of plants, so as to bring out the relation of the plant to light, water and 

 heat. 



' Observation of the life-history, habits, and control of common insect pests, such 

 as house-fly, grasshopper, mosquito. 



' Bacteria : simple descriptive lessons on the activities of bacteria in decay, in 

 roots of plants, in milk and in the home generally ; action of yeast.' 



