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 

 Straubenmtillerand 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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