58 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [16:2— Feb., 1920 



in the open air. Instead of little runts, filled with nicotine and 

 caffein, there will be men, with their chests expanded by fresh air 

 from out-of-door exercise. 



We have touched some of the ideals that embody nature-study. 

 We have recapitulated the advantage that nature- study, properly 

 taught, will bring. To develop these ideals there must be teachers 

 who appreciate the ideals and who are interested in the problem. 

 We do not ask teachers to teach reading who cannot call words 

 themselves. We do not ask teachers to teach arithmetic if they 

 do not know the multiplication table. Yet principals think nothing 

 of asking teachers to teach nature-study who know no science. 



With this most essential hue and cry for proper compensation 

 for teachers there should also be the demand, which is just as 

 necessary, for better teachers with better preparation. 



In the schools of today, and good schools too, a dry emasculated 

 kind of science, labelled nature-study, with no suggestion of the 

 nature-study point of view, is being given to children and to 

 normal students. 



It is not within the scope of this paper to discuss the pedagogy 

 of nature-study. There should be, however, a definite under- 

 standing among the believers in nature-study as to just what they 

 consider essential in the nature-study course and then see to it that 

 it is enforced. This is done by state superintendents of education 

 in connection with many other subjects in the curriculum. As 

 we are aware of the importance of nature-study why do we not 

 insist upon similar definite demands? 



The ideals of Boys' and Girls' Club work are divided between 

 two groups of instructors. One group is the far-seeing idealist 

 group, that is gradually learning the nature-study point of view. 

 The other group is the product of the agriculture schools. 



The first group is interested in human instincts or rather is 

 interested in offering a proper channel thru which those instincts 

 may have expression. The instinct to fight is satisfied by fighting 

 against insects, diseases and other elements of failure connected 

 with club projects. The instinct to build finds vent in the handi- 

 craft work of the clubs. The instinct to nurture is satisfied thru 

 the care of the living plants and animals of the club projects. 

 The instinct to cooperate, to work in bands or gangs is satisfied 

 by the club idea. The instinct for rhythm is satisfied thru the 

 club games which always follow the club meetings. 



