iv INTBODUCTOBY. 



absorb a great mass of knowledge from teacher and book. By 

 the more natural way of learning — the investigating method — he 

 may not seem to know so much, but his mind will be stronger. 



When we come to solve the numerous problems of real life, we 

 shall not have a teacher to depend upon, nor will there be any book 

 into which we may look for direction on every occasion. We have 

 to rely on our own powers ; hence, we should be trained to use 

 them. 



Exercising our faculties under wise guidance not only develops 

 them, but shows us their capabilities and their limitations. Taught 

 by the Nature-study method we become self-reliant, while our con- 

 fidence is tempered by a wholesome cautiousness. 



The Senses the Gateways of Knowledge.— The first know- 

 ledge comes to the little child through its senses — the sense of sight, 

 the sense of hearing, and the other senses. These are sometimes 

 called the gateways of knowledge. At first their service is very 

 feeble, but with practice they become stronger. They are so use- 

 ful that no pains should be spared to make every one of them 

 efficient and to train them all to the highest degree of efficiency of 

 which they are capable. Some eminent authorities teach that, 

 if the training of any sense be neglected until the age of twenty^ 

 it will be difficult or impossible to improve it much after that age. 



Sense-training is not only constantly useful, but also adds greatly 

 to the enjoyment of life. Much of the best literature can be fully 

 appreciated and enjoyed only by those who can vividly image the 

 ideas suggested. 



Sense-training is one of the aims of Nature-study. The Nature- 

 study teacher devises a graded series of exercises to train the senses 

 to acuteness and the mind to discriminate between closely-allied 

 sensations, and to image at will the form, color, odor, sound, 

 taste, weight or "feel " of objects. Examples of a few of these 

 exercises will be found in the Lessons on the Senses. 



Observing should be Followed up by Reasoning.-^ 

 While the Nature-study method is careful to train the senses, it is 

 no less solicitous that the pi'oper use be made of what the senseis 

 bring to the mind. Observing includes more than merely attend- 

 ing to the sensations ; the most impbrtant part of this exercise is 



