The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-29

the world around him. Plant and ami
NAL life afford the basis of these exer-
cises. The child is taught, for example,
to observe the winds, rain, snow, frost,
the changes in the moon, the suns ap-
parent changes, to know the different
kinds of woods and common minerals.
A we'll organized and we'll taught course
of nature observation fits the child, at a
time when he is most sensitive to keen
ness of observation to go through the
world with an intelligent, wide-awake
knowledge of what it contains.
These exercises. however, have other
merit than the increase of the child'a
power to observe, and the promotion of
his general intelligence. They bear a d.
rect relation to his intelligent compre-
hension of much that he reads Read
ing books are filled with selections
about natural phenomena or country
life. Many terms used are unfamiliar
In meaning to children, and especially
to city children. A knowledge of and
interest in life about him, of plants,
birds, minerals, of the different kinds
of woods, of the heavens at night fur
nish the child with resources which will
be of use all his subsequent life.
Those exercises are closely connected
with language training AS a rule the
child is interested in what he can see
and touch, and being interested, he is
inclined to talk, because he has stme-
thing to talk about. To make good
takers Is a part of the training in Eng
fish. Nature exercises are closely allied
to geography. An examination of any
text book in geography will bear out the
statement that elementary or simple
botany zoology, meteorology, mineralo-
gy, astronomy, comprise no insignlfi-
cant part of the study
In word, nature exercises arouses
an appreciation of the beauties Of the
world about the child In which he will
live. why teach him the geography of
Africa and leave him in ignorance of
the plants animals and minerals about
him?
We have also a supervisor Of sewing
who receives $3.50, and one assistant
who receives $3.50. The cost of supplies
of all kinds was $15S.32 during the year
ending in June, 1898. One hour week
Is given to the subject in the fourth,
fifth and sixth grades. Only girls re-
ceive the instruction. l believe this in
struction is education as 1t trains to
habits of neatness, care, manual deX-
terity, precision, order, ETC. 1t is GER
tainly practical as all must admit, and
it is essentially necessary in some quar-
ters of the city Some supervision of
the subject is in my judgment required.
Sewing was introduced In 1886
T,,c% ,.,,o at to-,
duced into the schools in 1888 One les
son of two hours a week is given to
about one half of the seventh grade
girls, who would like to take it, We
have but one teacher employed for the
elementary schools. Her salary is $3.50
a year. The cost for supplies for the
year ending in June, 1898, was about
$3.50.
A part of the time of one teacher in
the Boardman school is also used for
this purpose. l have no hesitancy In
saying that l believe in the value of
this kind Of instruction. The number
of cities teaching the subject is con-
stantly increasing.
instruction in woodwork or manual
training for seventh grade boys was in
troduced in 1883 by private subscription
by interested citizens. About one half
of the seventh grade boys are given
this instruction. You pay one teacher
900 and Part of the time of one
teacher in the Boardman school is given
to elementary instruction. The cost of
supplies for the seventh grade does not
exceed 500 a year. A part of the time
IF two additional teachers is given to
manual instruction to boys in the
fourth, fifth and sixth grades in four
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