Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-01-31
Nature Study.
Editor WILLMAR TRIBUNE:

Editor WILLMAH TRIBUNE:
Teach the child to be it's own teach
er. He is the best school teacher who
makes himself superaa lous. It is I'M
der all circumstance, but very little
knowledge, a child is able to acquire
even by the help of the best teachers.
The working power of a child is but
small both mentally and physically.
But if it is wide awake, alert, inter-
ested in gaining knowledge and knows
a little about how to teach itself by
the time it leaves school, then it has
already gained a knowledge that is
Invaluable. 1t has been started in the
right direction. And if its will power
and energy have been developed, then
it will in proper time reach the highest
degree Of education, OF: that degree of
which is needed to fulfill the
various duties Of life. A course 1T a
higher school of education will cer-
tssinly be Of advantage but not at all
necessary. And to give the best, re-
suits the underlying principle of the
teaching at the high school and uni
versity must be the same as at the
common school,: teach the young stu
dent to be his own teacher.
This is one Of the leading id,;as Of
Herbert Spencer's magnificent work,
''Education: Intellectual, Moral, and
Ph7sical," a. book that ought not TO
he missing in any teachers library.
Mr.. Spencer also writes with forcibte
evidence about the superiority of ma
ture study above the dead languages,
history OF war, biography 'ofkings. etc.
The latter studies are Of no practical
use to most people. and as pedagog-
ical factor far inferior to the study Of
nature. s'..
N These are also the underlying prin-
:cip4es OF the great educational work
in the line 81 nature study directed BY
the Cornell University OF New York
state. This nature study movement il
one of the most interesting educational
features OF the time. And it will sure
~ be Of great Importance in the future.
It has aroused the greatest interest IN
New York state and the interest for
this. extension work of the Cornell
University is rapidly spreading
Throughout. the United States. It has
exceeded the experimental state, al
though it is Of very recent date. Il
has proved practical educational
system of great advantage. r.
The University tries to reach the
children both indirectly through the
teacher and directly by correspond
ence. The first method think is fal
superior. A series of Teachers
Leaflets on Nature-study' has beer
published by the university for ttht
purpose of giving the teachers, infor
nation on the subject and edueat,
them to take up the problem of natur,
study in the pubic schools. The cal
has not been in vain. About 26,00|
teachers of New York state and many
from other states receive the leaflet
at their own request. And the Worl
is taken up with enthusiasm.
The study of these leaflets is an en-
Ijoyment in itself. They are very. in
structive and written in clear, at
tractive style. Leaaet No. give
information about 9 How a Squasl
Plant gets out Of Seed, - and alon
with that leaflet follows informatio
about how to proceed with egg-she1
farming, 80 the children can waite
with their own eyes how q squas
plant grows and developes from da
to day Leaaet Mo- gives informa
4 tion about how to make some YER
obstructive chemical observations
4 The third leaflet gives the interestin
story Of -Four Apple Twigs. ''S3C
u special interest are the leaflets o
sssLife ia an Aquarium, The Lii
4 History Of q ~ ad & and Hints o
making Collections Of Insects. 3 5
a makes a eaeher's heart leap with jo
& to look into the many grateful eyes {
4 his class when he gives some ifsteres
u ing: instruct ons which the childre
,,8Ifusly nderstand and comprehen,
low ssabso bin and hank i'll 4
y ....Jye q Child can toss !s And tfljI
J, lJhere is hard another subject fro
], which teacher and pupils would deri,
4 50 much real Senj oyInentII as from a
4 re stud The life sof an ag,1 ariu
vii be more interest to childr.
& th au5ss fairs tal The wafer &,
j Ioughs and lakes and rivera ARD teer
i |IIoy It'll ii IN these places We 81
living world Of greatest interef
/ small creaturess of oil kinds Of shap
Their Mode cf i ring, their mods
locosnot ion, how they grow and y
Y [velop rom one m rs 81 other:
!. they owe and hate how they aay a
\ they are born, how al
8 and some ofs them B
Il Tired lirin slter, chan
sLlnto - snsIr,sl q ~ lslnS u