BIRD-PROTECTION IN SCHOOLS 137 



thering bird-protection. One may almost say that 

 only through instruction in the schools will eventu- 

 ally come that enlightened public opinion which 

 wiU insure permanent and effective bird-protec- 

 tion. The necessity of having bird-study gen- 

 erally introduced into the schools, as a part of 

 nature-study, cannot be too strongly emphasized. 

 The importance of this is recognized by such or- 

 ganizations as the Audubon Societies, which are 

 doing a splendid educational work. The protec- 

 tion of our native birds is an economic question 

 of such importance that our school system must 

 be utilized to solve the problems which arise in 

 this connection. In the hands of the school-- 

 teacher lies the solution of this and other eco- 

 nomic problems of the day. The children should 

 be taught the value of birds and encouraged to 

 protect them. This may be accomplished in a 

 positive, not a negative way ; that is, the children 

 are to be taught not merely that they must not 

 injure the birds and rob their nests, but also that 

 they are to do something for the birds, — protect 

 them, feed them, build houses for them, and be 

 kind to them. 



The Child's Activities. — One of the most 

 effective phases of nature-study is that which calls 

 into play the manual activities of the child in 



