New-York tribune., 1900-08-08
CLASSES IN NATURE STUDY
ONE HUNDRED TEACHERS ARE TAKING
THE SUMMER COURSE AT CORNELL

ONE HUNDRED TEACHERS ARE TAKING
THE SUMNER COURSE AT CORNELL
The constantly increasing interest IN nature study
IS shown by the fact that in that department OF
the summer session et Cornell University there
were over four hundred applicants for admission.
There were facilities FOR only one hundred, and
they studying earnestly. All but TWO
three are women and teachers.
The course. open free Of tuition 10 New-York
State teachers. forms part Of the regular summer
session. OF which Dr.. De Garmo IS the dean. but
the actual supervision OF the work is entrusted
Professor Z P. Roberts director Of the College of
Agriculture, who has charge Of The division ''on
the farm; Of Professor J. +. Comstock and Mrs,
A 3. Comsrock, who have charge Of the entono-
logical division, ard Of Professor L H. Bailey who
is The head ot the department OF plant life The
course Is new one, being given last year for the
first tine. and is intended supplement the gen
era agricultural work being carried on for The
State BY the university.
The instruction given the teachers is arranged
under three heads namely. nature study on the
farm, nature study IN plant life and nature study
IN insect life Each Of these subjects consists OF
lectures observation and collection in the field and
microscopic investigation IN the laboratory. In tha
morning one hour only IS devoted 10 lecture on
the topic of the day and then the remainder Of the
day Til o'clock IN the afternoon Is spent IN the
fields O. II the laboratories Il IS this field work
that becomes times most picturesque, as for IN
e-dLct y L-eI Lile uaE II devoted 10 me SUBJECT
the Farm" the whole band Of a hundred short
skirIed' teachers. under the guidance Of the ven
cradle dean of the College Of Agriculture and his
Sorps Of assistants, proceed from The lecture hall
across rhs campus the university farm Here.
perchsHce. having grouped themselves on the
nnows wagons and rude wooden benches in this
barn. they listen 10 q short talk on grains or cat
tie with these objects OF every side; or Il the
weather be fair they walk 70 the fields OF waving
grain ard the sIopIng pastures where, while en-
barley and rye, even the bravest woman Is mo-
rnenrarfIy frightened 70 kind faced Jersey
poktng rs nose over her shoulder Likewise, when
plant Hfe'' Is the days topic, the whole class
with their metal botany cases swinging from their
shoulders, 90 70 one Of the nearby groves, where
they learn OF the wonders Of the trees and the
brook But the oldest sight OF al IS when they
emerge from the lecture hall chronological
cour and. armed with long white butterfly nets
spread the fields Ike white plumed devastat-
ing army.
Upon the return from the fields the laboratories
next present busy scene for here all rhe material
the gpoIls Of the chase, II t-uth-Hlust be
ranged and classified. the plants and flowers IN
presses the live insects in the breeding cages and
he others II the teachers individual cases for
future schoolroom Use Breeding cages are prov1d-
&C, in which quickly developing forms, like the
butterfly nay BE- kept and carefully observed
through the different stages OF development On
the botanical side also each teacher keeps on her
desk nAn1DeE o. pOtLS- L'z--S- % 7-I-- L-i--4S-
and squash germtnsted from the seed and daily
observed and described By her IN her notes. As an
enthusiastic Brooklyn girl remarked, 7 had read
al about z. but this learning from the objects
themselves is delightful"
Besides this daily routine work seminar1es are
held Al which various methods Of teaching nature
E-uSv are Informally discussed under the direction
q q professor, 10 whom knCJry questions are re-
tered and other matters such as failures IN the
kaeptng of school plants and aqUariuuas, are pre-
serCed and talked over, 50 that each one IS oene-
ateG oy the experience and suggestions OF the
otaers Every week during The last Of the session
2 lecture is given by specialist on nature sub
-eC-s-
Cf the one hundred students large proportion IS
from New-York and Brooklyn, owing 70 suPerlIl-
rer6e-- Naxwell's decision 70 have the study OF
nature introduced tn the lower grades o. the New
Ygrg schools and 10 the belief that similar instruc-
cor VII soon De required OF teachers in the Brook