The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-29
NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS.
Prof. John NJ. Coulter, of Chicago, De-
Iivers an Address.

Iivers an Address.
The principal address of the afternoon was
that of Dr. John NJ. Coulter, of the Uni
versity of Chicago who discussed Mature
Work in Our Public Schools" In the esti-
nation of DR.. Coulter, work Of this kind
should be eminently practicable and the
teacher should seek rather to choose the
right subject for the right moment than to
adhere to fixed rules and schedules. He ar
gued that the subject was one of the living
educational subjects of the day. 1t was his
idea to talk on it in a way to bring out
a full discussion. He discussed the signih-
canoe of the subject. Most education he
regarded as formal. Education is generally
conducted in an artificial atmosphere. The
child's impulses, he said, are towards
nature. AS a result of conventional educa-
ton, young people are brought into con-
tact with artifciality and what is natural
in them is restrained. 1.-THE idea of nature
study" he said, sis to greet children with
at least one thing that is natural" Momen-
tum in education was to be acquired, he
said. by exciting interest. The idea is not
only to get hold of something to arrest ply
steal but also mental attention. In his esti-
nation the effect of conventional education
is mutilation. Those who devoted consider
able thought to nature study were bound
to remark that the greatest power of orig
inal observation was to be found in the
new student-the lad or girl of six years of
age-while those of six years training in
the conventional education of the schools
were stiff and conventional He criticised
many methods of teaching. Many teachers
lack facility in the use of material. No ordi-
nary teacher is anywhere so out of place
as in the teaching of nature study. He die
not believe that teachers who are expected
to teach everything. could engage success
fully in nature study. He had no patience
with nature study that was simply engaged
in to occupy time He regarded this of such
an inane character as to be beyond accurate
description To accurately teach nature
study required much more training than the
ordinary teacher possesses He regarded
nature study in its best and broadcast sense
as meaning much more than simple, ser1ti-
mental, poetical occupation. The speaker
had little patience with poetical fancies
when mixed with education, although he
saw much that was good in both poetry
and practical life and described how both
might be interWrought to strengthen char
acler: Inc main lqea OF nature STUDY; as ne
saw 1t, is to get the student in touch with
the actual things about him rather than the
sentimental. He regarded the cause of truth
as being too sacred to have 1t mingled to
any great extent with fictitious elements
The afternoon work of the association con-
cluded with discussion of What is Worth
While in Nature Study" DR.. D. w. Dennis,
Earlham College; Mature Study Clutches"
Prof Stanley Coulter, Purdue University,
and Rock Study George L. Roberts,
Greensburg Amos w. Butler Of this city,
was down for a discussion of Birds, but
was unavoidably prevented from being
present.
J: w. Carr, of Anderson, introduced reso-
buttons providing for the printing of the
proceedings of the association; for securing
the cooperation of the other educational as
sociations and for interesting the various
press associations in bringing about greater
and fuller discussion of educational matters
In the secular press. The resolutions were
adopted without comment.
r. j. Alley, of the State University urged
upon the teachers present the necessity for
enrolling in the association. He called at
tention to the fact that men who were not
only officers, but also speakers in the meet
ings of the association, had failed to con-
tribute toward It's sustenance. He made an
earnest plea for teachers to help sustain
the association. 1t was well on to s clock
before the afternoon meeting closed.
AT the morning session of the association
Charles r. Williams, of this city, discussed
The Needs of the Schools of Indiana"
Judge George A. Cardwill, of New Albany,
discussed the same topic from the stand
point of the business man; Miss Frances
Bendict, of Washington, and H. s. Gilham
of Lima, from the teachers standpoint
while B. K. Cramer, of Tippecanoe county,
and John w. Shuler, Fountain county, trus-
tees; l.. 0. Harris, Hancock county and
w. H. Senour, Franklin county, superin-
tendents, and Morley Caldwell, a student of
the Lebanon High School, also talked