Arizona republican., 1900-12-18

the illness of her child. The paper as read by Professor McClatchie was i1- deed interesting It pertained largely to the Arizona phase of nature study It brought out many new features anG iCeas both instructive and suggestive to the assembled teachers The dis cussion on the subject was opened by Professor McClatchie. He brought out three ways of pursuing nature study work: First. by reading, citing a num- ber of reference books in this line, an.ong them being Water Babies" which is especially interesting to small children: "Our Feathered Friends and the .Citizen Bird" the latter being charmingly written story and serves as an introduction into nature study. Second, by bringing objects into the school rooms for study. Third. the best way of outdoor operation (used by Mrs Davidson) This last method MT. McClatchie strongly advocated.
 The professor next gave numerous reasons for taking up naturc study, among them: It is active memory training for children and leads them to observe. strengthening the faculty of observation, resolving into usefulness Ia ter in life. It develops the reasoning power, for by active work with ma terial the reasoning power IS both stim- ulated and developed. It diverts the mind from evil tendencies by giving him something to think about. It is always noticed that boys and girls in terested in nature are good. Thus na- ture study has a remarkably good moral effect It lessens cruelty to dumb animals, for it brings him in touch and sympathy with the animal life. It causes contentnlent. He re- marked that it was the lament of so- ciologists that the population tends to centralize about Ghe city, and the study of nature creates a love for the beauty of country life.
 Miss AIariIa Merriman followed with a we'll delivered talk on her experiences in the work. She said though there was no time in minutes on the pro gramme for natura study she taught great deal If it in her school. The study of geography she emphasized, and said it was largely nature study when rightly presented. Miss Merri man brought out many new and inter- estin@ thoughts.
 F. lI Irish, the instructor Of science in the normal, followed with a short talk, bringing out the points that draw inC and outlining of things studied in nature work should be practiced n1orH. that besides being a mode of eXpres- sion, it enables to discover and dis cern new features. and that however simple. this class Of work should be brought into use in primary grades especially. Professor Irish stated that nature study could be the basis of the whole school course; for instance, in number work, evaporation could be studied: measurement, calculation, vol ume, weight, etc., could be studied. Another great aid would be a garden on the school grounds or window plants for study. He suggested as q valuable reference book COulder's Plant Rela- tions" Another thing, Professor Irish said teachers could do, was to give each pupil some responsibility, some particular plant or animal to study, work up and write about for class. Daily weather record was another val uable thing to keep, as it was a means of giving pupils habits of regularity and conceptions of value in higher grades. such as dew point, thermom- etsr, evaporation, clouds, etc.
 Miss Katherine Adams followed, en- dorsing the study of nature in school in emphatic language, bringing out the value of sensory training and de- velopnent, and said she thought the day was not far distant when the basis