The Washington times., 1895-06-19
SCIENCE AND READING


As before indicated the practical work
of the primary schools may be said to rest
Fundamentally on and to proceed from the
observations of the child. These observa-
lions under the guidance Of the sktllful,
Intelligent teacher are but a continuation
Of the Investigation Of environment which
s.egan with the child 5 earliest moments and
should head 10 harmony with aud right
Interpretation OfhissurroundinGs. Of Through
the study uf the elementary sciences the
child is brought into close relation with
nature. is inspired with love Tor the
wonderful beauties he sees aud is better
fitted to enjoy life.
Many of the facts OF botany, zoology,
physiOlOgv physics and physical geography
are within the comprehension or the child ot
the lowest primary grades IL presented bE
the teacher who wisely considers the ability
of the child In leading the child TO discover
facts Of science it is not the primary pur-
pose or any considerable part Of the work TO
teach science per Sc or TO make the child
in any sense a scientist or an investigator OF
science. but while making him careful OBJ
server and giving him habits OF classifying
his knowledge and thus securing to his mode
of thought scientific trend, that is, trend
for properly relating facts known, 1t is the
PURPOSE Of the work to lead him by such
lines of work and such Correlations OF facts
that he Will become possessed OF that EnoWl-
edge that is the common stock OF the IN
telligeut man Of to-day.
The beginnings of this work only are at
tempted in the primary school, but these
have in view the intention OF the entire
work on the respective studies begun al the
close of the grammar school course before
they NAV be taken up in the secondary or
technical school. The child is not TO learn
zoology. No attempt is made to teach him
that branch as such. The attempt is made
only To give him at an early day that
knowledge Of the animal Kingdom " hich is q
part Of the possession of the Intelligent
reader OF modern books and papers. He
may early learn to distinguish vertebrates
from other animals, TO know that an oyster
is a mollusk. some of the respects in which II
differs from the fish, may know the different
classes of birds and may be able TO talk IN
tellicently- on the habits and modes OF life
in connection with the habitat of different
kinds OF animals, on broad lines Core
spondingIy the same might be said OF all
the other sciences whose beginnings are
taught in the primary schools.
It must not be forgotten, however, that
the primary purpose Of ell the science Work
of the lower grade schools is, first, for the
training OF the faculties of the child in a
rational manner; second, for putting him
in possession of connected. well understood,
Ielf-found knowledge as the only true basis
for rational teaching of language and the
acouirement OF those formal branches
of study connected herewith, reading,
grammar, spelling, penmanship, and third,
for the purpose of leading him to see his
relations to the institutions and activities
OF society which surround him, the park,
the Geological Garden, the National Mu-
scum, the Fish Commission, the reservoir,
fhe conduit the microscope, etc, etc.
While this search for truth is in progress
great care is exercised by the teacher TO
irain the child IN the Use OF idiomatic
English. Through the Investigation comes
the acquisition OF knowledge and the de-
sire on the part Of the child TO express
himself in language. Exactness OF eX-
preston depends upon accuracy OF OBJ
seryation, hence careful attention is given
nv the teacher TO see that the child dis
covers exactness, sees or hears With ac'
curaev. and then that he expresses him
self in idiomatic English, with correspond
Ing faithfulness.
Much time at the beginning OF the child
school life (several moHthsl is given tc
this early development in seeing, determin
ing and expressing in oral language. H'
learns TO know many plants by name, be
comes acquainted With the hidden bean
ties of flowers, investigates fruits, watches
and describes the animals in which he II
most interested. the insects, birds, etc
He represents what he sees with his pencil
and brush, thus giving graphic expression
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