Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-07

papil into contact with nature, and com.
pei The s.udy VI shiDgs ~ they are.
The children vii greu their own object,
lessons. Pm eminsaely the children
should Study native plants. such ~ ean
be gsthered fsom II surrounding coan-
try.
The teacher sh0aId be allowed not
only certain portion Of each dag for
outdoor study. but all needed time for
taking pupils 70 the woods and wild
places to collect the plants native
20 the region. The search for these,
a. well ~ the study Of those
found, will constitute education. Asa
Gray was a product Of just such
work. IL win create mental enthusiasm; .
the curse Of book education ID mental
ponderoslty. Such education viii spread
to the homes of the children. Parents
will become coIsborers. They will turn
out 10 all them. Each parent will be
proud to know that bis chill Ia notable for
Investigation. I do not venture 70 touch
on the richness Of the field, the volumes
that Will be opened. Ii I were 10
mention one item, Ii would be light
thrown On everyday things, the
charm thrown about the eommoHest
plant What new world to child
this becomes when he sees that poten-
,iiias and strawberries are cousins. and
strawberries, peaches, piums, cherries,
apricots. blaekbefrles, are all Of ore
family origin? But there Is most to be
said Of the very practical nature OF such
study IL all tells on home life. 1t all
goes TO make farm life interesting. IL
ill leads Ia the way Of enabling child
TO be better sgrieultufist and happier
person am confident, however, that
the very best result of nature study, in
a natural manner, Ia moral development.
When you bring a child face to face
with divine thoughts, you will be sure
TO see higher moral conviction working |
out into higher moral life
When Agasiz was at Penikese, he said
to his pupils You must be reverent
before Nature Here is the work OF God, |
and he Is now at work 1t Is not place |
for folly This feeling toward the
universe IL the finest word Of science /
find that the study of chemistry and
physic In the laboratory, and Of botany
and zoology and entomology In the
fields, steadily strengthens the character
Of my children. Books are looked upon
only a. references mere tallies and memo |
randa. The real theme Of study is ma
ture. and every moment more clearly
they zee purpose In nature. | know
nothing more beautiful than young
soa waking up to a clearer conception
Of the Holy VIII working for
betterment in all things, and to his own
ability to work on the same lines. With
all our Boosting we are still in no one
thing more lacking in wisdom OF expen
diture and true economy than in our
method of equipping schools. 1t
will pay to engage good teachers
and hold them at just price
but the utmost pittance paid to stupid
aud half bred person is sheer waste. In
no way could we more substantially
throw away money than on an igno-
ramus. We need totally new method
Of preparing our common school teach
ers for their work. Until that method
Ia set 10 operation, | see no better plan
to make the system do what is now
expected of the teacher. The school
garden will do that give enthusiasm,
and win the pupil forward in spite OF
unequipped leaders