The activities of the Museum’s Department of Public 
Education for the year 1912 are set forth in the following 
report of the Curator: 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.—It is the chief 
function of the Department of Public Education to assimilate 
the scientific data collected by other departments and present 
these facts in such a way that teachers can readily make use 
of them and children can easily understand them. By this 
means, we attempt to arouse in children and adults a keener 
interest in nature and outdoor life. The activities of the 
department during the year have been devoted to the improve- 
ment of present methods rather than to the development of 
new. 
As in the past the principal means of contact between the 
Museum and the schools have been the circulating collections 
and the lectures, but certain special features have aided in 
strengthening the relations existing between the Museum and 
the educational system of the City. Of these special features, 
mention should be made of ‘‘Burroughs Day,” the Third Annual 
Teachers’ Day, and representation before the Committee on 
School Inquiry of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. 
On April 10, in celebration of the seventy-fifth birthday of 
John Burroughs, more than 300 pupils from the lower east 
side, members of the Burroughs Clubs of Public Schools Nos. 
15 and 188, assembled at the Museum and under the direction 
of Miss Margaret Knox and Miss Ellen Phillips presented an 
original play which had for its theme the love of nature as 
revealed in Mr. Burroughs’s writings. Mr. Burroughs was 
present as the guest of honor, and was greatly pleased by this 
tribute from the children, the majority of whom were of foreign 
parentage. ; 
In pursuance of the plan adopted two years ago, the Annual 
Teachers’ Day was held at the Museum on November 16. 
Brief addresses were made by Director Lucas, Dr. Gustave 
Straubenmiiller and the Curator, which were followed by an illus- 
trated lecture by Vilhjalmr Stefansson, ‘‘ Among the Eskimo 
of Coronation Gulf and Vicinity.”” The programs of previous 
years had presented material and information regarding the 
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