hadley RELATION OF NATURE-STUDY TO CLUB WORK 59 



This group of club workers recognize the danger of a narrow 

 trade-training, while at the same time they have not lost sight of 

 the necessity of a broad cultural training for our future citizens. 

 The national motto, the 4 H's, shows the ideals of this first group: 



The Head — to think, to plan, to reason. 



The Hands — to be useful, helpful, and skillful. 



The Heart — to be kind, true, sympathetic. 



The Health — to resist disease, to enjoy life, to make for efficiency. 



The ideals which are the background of nature-study teaching 

 and those of club work should be the same as the same results can 

 be obtained. The most advantageous kind of club work is a divi- 

 sion of nature-study. If the nature-study ideals are not held as 

 a background for clubs, the children are losing the best part of the 

 possible results. 



The home project of vegetable garden, pig club, poultry club, 

 carried on by school children, under the supervision of the teachers, 

 bring the desired end of close cooperation between school and home. 

 The formal education received at school is put into practical use at 

 home. 



Similar to nature-study work the club work develops a com- 

 munity spirit in the interest it creates in improving the home sur- 

 roundings. The back yard cannot be a rubbish heap if there is a 

 club garden in it. If parents know that the club is coming to visit 

 Mary's garden, or rabbits, or chickens and compare them with 

 the garden, rabbits or chickens, of ten of her school-mates there will 

 be pride in having just as pretty a front yard, just as neat a back- 

 yard as any of the neighbors. So again thru love of the soil, pride 

 in the home, interest in the neighborhood we are helping to solve 

 our problem of Americanization. 



Club work develops observation. One must have sharp eyes to 

 detect aphids before they become a menace. Club work develops 

 independence, thrift in children. Well supervised club work 

 always produces a balance on the right side of the ledger; 60% 

 of the club members in Michigan who finished their projects, had 

 bank accounts last year. Nothing develops independence and 

 stability as a bank account. It is also interesting to note that 

 children who know how their money was earned are not apt to 

 spend it carelessly. Club work shows the nobility of work. 

 There can be no lucky fellow who can slip thru without working 



