111. Status of Museum Extension in 1914 



The circulating nature study collections have been so long 

 in use that the teachers have come to regard them as permanent 

 adjuncts to their work. Throughout the present school year we 

 have continued to circulate these collections. At present there 

 are 597 available and there are more than 400 schools on our 

 distribution list. As has been the custom in the past ten 



vears. the collections are delivered to the schools 

 Circulation of , . , ,, , , ... , c 



_ bv our messengers and called tor at the end ot 



\ature $tudy ' , . , ... , , 



the loan periods without expense to the teachers 



or the Board of Education. No changes of 

 note have been made in the regular collections but we have pre- 

 pared a number of special collections to meet special demands; 

 for instance, the drawing teachers have found that many of the 

 natural history specimens furnish excellent subjects for their 

 pupils in drawing, as for instance the color patterns and mark- 

 ings of various insects and shells, and additional collections de- 

 signed tor this specific purpose are in preparation. It frequently 

 happens that the High Schools need a more comprehensive 

 collection than is contained in our regular circulating collections 

 when their students are taking up certain biological problems. 

 So far as practicable, we have met the desires for such collections 

 by sending to the schools special material. 



The regular fall and spring courses of lectures for pupils have 



been given as usual. The topics of these lectures have been 



confined to geographical, historical and industrial subjects, as 



past experience has taught us that such lectures best supplement 



the class-room work. These were attended by 18,212 



/ GCtlJ TGS 



pupils. Considering that these lectures are delivered 

 after school hours and that attendance of both teachers and 

 pupils is wholly voluntary, the large numbers that have been 

 present are very gratifying. The teachers who have had the 

 energy to bring their pupils to these lectures deserve the highest 

 praise for their devotion. 



Desiring to encourage in the children a greater interest in 

 nature and outdoor life, we tried the experiment this spring of 

 giving a series of lectures on natural history. There were four 



is 



