CHAPTER III 



THE MISSION OF NATURE STUDY 



The Purpose in View. — Before undertaking any actual 

 teaching of nature study it is well to consider thoughtfully 

 the purpose which it has in view. If this purpose seems 

 desirable and attainable a stimulating motive for the work 

 will be obtained. In the writings on this subject various 

 statements as to its purpose are found, but there are no 

 very essential discrepancies among them. The differences 

 are rather in how much is included than in how much is 

 excluded. The following conception of purpose is of the 

 inclusive type, the opinion of the writer being that the 

 mission of nature study is much larger than it seems to look 

 to many who have written about it. 



Interest in Men versus Interest in Nature. — One of the 

 tendencies of modern civilization has been to increase in- 

 terest in men and their affairs and to diminish intelligent 

 interest in nature. The former is much to be desired, but 

 the latter is to be deplored. It is an error to develop one ' 

 at too great expense to the other. There is no necessary 

 connection between increased interest in man and de- 

 creased interest in nature. This condition has come about 

 from the fact that the affairs of men have thrust them- 

 selves upon our attention with increasing aggressiveness, 

 while the affairs of nature have kept in the background. 

 One mission of nature study is to induce people to include 



