New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-14
DISCUSSING NATURE STUDY

| SUPERINTENDENT SCOTS ADDRESS At Asp1-py
| PARK-THE CONVENTION CLOSED
Asbury Park. ~ j. July 10 (specian-Tbe c,osino
DAYS sessions OF the National Educational Assoca.
| 'o" IN the beach auditorium equalled in pon, Of
| '''S' ana attendance any of the meetings held
'his week The morning session opened with dis
cuSS'oh by Dr. Edwin \. Brooks. Superintendent OF
Schoos OF Philadelphia, on a subiec, which was 10
| nave been treated by A. T. Marble Superir,endent
| or Schools. Worcester Mass -"professI,n,I Ohl,o,
lions and Duties Of the Teacher" In the absence
OF Professor Marble DR.. Brooks elaborated his dis
c"Ss'on into paper bearing on the theme which
was received by the vast audience with much favor
lie was followed by Charles B Scott Superin-
'enden OF Nature Study. of 81. Paul. who read a
paper on Laboratory Methods IN Elementary
| Schools, of which the following is a partial ab-
stract:
h TIE child is characterized from the day of his
rOrai eduSation OF the child begins the
senses those gates through which all genuine
n ~.vusS OF ths world must come. instead of be-
ny laboratory methods we mean the method Of
nature using, and by using developing the senses
ana representation by each Individual pupil instead
of h mIe accepting or appropriatirg the statement
Hon s ps n Tny The laboratory method is bes;
uUh III 'he study or natural sciences or mature
slight and need deter no one 1t requires no labora-
tory and very little equipment. The laboratory is
the seeing eye and the hearing ear. Ii correlates
Win and greatly aids. the other work of the
ing and geography. The Necessity for laboratory
work In all grades becomes more evident when we
reAlZe That probably 60 per cent Of the pupils I'm
our schools never go beyond the sixth year in
habits of @ Ps S and 9Grs IN HeeG b OF the
suit from individual observation. individual inves
ugation. Individual expression. individual thinking
or or those SympathieS and tastes, that
and love for higher and better things which comes
from the loving, sympathetic, right study of nature?
Our laboratory must be the natural environ
ment of the child that which is nearest. most
In the ultimate analysis our methods depend en-
TREY on the child and his nature and needs.
must be kept interested.
The child must and DO and tell and think for
The work must be integral part OF the child's
hand his he and work in school and on the other
hand his life ont Of school and amid the environ
ment Of nature
The teacher must approach nature from the stand
point most interesting and most educative to the
chd that o. action and life and function. Through
me s'uay on FUNCTION the child will better under
stand structure. From structure and plan he can
naturally pass to comparison and classification
This subject discussed 10y r. F. Denneld
superintendent OF Schools. OF Duluth Mimi in -
mastery manner, highly entertaining TO his listen
ers Then came a paper The Higher Uses Of
Nature study" by Miss ". Cropsey assistant |
superintendent OF schools. of indianapolis
Henry Sabin. State Superintendent OF Public In |
struction. OF Dies Moines. Iowa. spoke upon |
Horace Mann's Country School" He considered |
me education OF the country boy OF as much I'm |
pVIta';ce as mat OF the college youth. endowed |
with his Inheritance OF millions The danger Of |
educatlon today was that there was too much |
philosophy ana science about IT, II one wanted 10 |
interest the people one must talk cominon-sense
superintendent Orville 7 Bright Of Illinois fol |
scented. '''' ~
This afternoon the following department meet |
ings were In session: Kindergarten elementary |
norma, art music and business education
IN the evening the new auditorium was the scene
OF an imposing Spectacle when the members Of |
eight diNer"nt departments. together with tho CON
eral sessions. filled the great tempt. TO Overlooking
~ > j.. m prayer was offered 10y n" Rev Ir i
H. STOKES Professor Richard = Moulton Of Cam
bridge. Eng. delivered al dress on the study OF
literature. ana held the attention OF the great
audience for hour. ~