Lectures for School Children 13 



Committee on Children's Interests, a course of twelve lectures was 

 prepared and delivered in the fall of 1904. Each of these lectures 

 was given three times in the course. The lectures were in the nature 

 of informal talks and were fully illustrated with lantern slides. The 

 subjects were chosen with special reference to the course of study, 

 particularly in history, geography and nature study, and were de- 

 signed to supplement the classroom work of the teachers. The 

 lectures were given by members of the Scientific Staff on Monday, 

 Wednesday and Friday afternoons at four o'clock, and attendance on 

 the part of teachers and pupils was wholly voluntary. Their success 

 was instant. The children came to the Museum literally by thous- 

 ands and the teachers were enthusiastic in their praise of the work. 

 Similar courses have been given, each spring and fall, with two ex- 

 ceptions, since that date. Under the direction of Dr. G. Clyde Fisher, 

 who joined the staff in 1913, the scope of the lectures has been 

 broadened. The subjects have been varied from time to time, and 

 the children's interest has been intensified by the introduction of 

 motion pictures. 



Since 1914, these courses have been supplemented with a 

 special series of lectures devoted exclusively to natural history, de- 

 signed to encourage in children a greater interest in nature and out- 

 door life. Such topics as "Sea Creatures of Our Shores," "The Birds 

 of Our Parks," "Fur-bearers Found Within Fifty Miles of New York 

 City," "Wild Flowers of the Vicinity of New York City," and similar 

 subjects have already been taken up. 



The interest in natural history aroused in the teachers and pupils 



by the circulating nature study collections and the lecture courses, 



combined with the increased transportation facilities, have led many 



teachers to bring their pupils to the Museum for 



special guide study and examination of the principal exhibits. 



service In order to enable the teachers and the pupils 



to utilize the time spent at the Museum to the 

 best advantage, the plan was adopted in 1906 of providing an 

 instructor for such classes. This instruction was adapted especially 

 to children. This branch of the work has had a steady growth, and the 

 plan of giving special lectures to pupils, illustrating the facts brought 

 out in the lectures by later examination of the collections in the ex- 

 hibition halls, has developed from it. This docent service is in a for- 

 mative stage, owing in part to the fact that regular attendance of 

 classes has not been organized or the Museum instruction fully cor- 

 related with school work. This instruction in the exhibition halls is 

 equivalent to laboratory work and is of great importance as a method 

 of education. In 1916-1917 this method of teaching was given more 

 intensive study through cooperation with Barnard College. Students 



