New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-29
NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS.
Simple Methods of Interesting a Child in
It's Wonders

Get some tin cans and some jelly glasses and
plant seeds IN them among the Counsels
which Gustave Straubenmuller district superin-
tendent Of schools. gave 10 great company OF
public school teachers at the meeting Of the So
ciety FOR the Study OF Practical School Problems
an New-Hork University on Saturday afternoon.
Mr.. straubenmullers topic. Mature Study in the
oufrlcuIum' was one upon which he was ad-
mirably equipped to speak for not only has he
gwen much time and attention 70 scientific in
terests, but he chairman Of the committee
which prepared the nature study syllabus that
went into effect with the current school year.
Continuing his plea for the employment Of simple.
familiar. practicable nature forms. Mr.. Strauben-
muller said:
Let one pupil plant grass seed on wet cotton and
another haxseed on damp sponge. Dig out the
inside Of a sweet potato. hH it with water and
watch II throw out tendrils. or place a sweet
potato in a tumbler Of water and note how the
delicate creepers and spraylets make out Then
take a common white potato and plant in il
bean or an onion, and see what happens. Grow
soLle veEeiaples IN the cellar End more or me
same kind In the light for your boys and girls 10
"A capital plan is TO plant a number Of boxes
with-oh. any kind Of seed il doesn't matter what
marking the spot and the date Of planting Of each
seed. Fiji box with sand. another with loan
ana another with clay. Place one in a warm
another IN the shade. one IN the dark; keep one
Wet. another dry.
Ideal. WAY TO TEACH IT.
~one fact discovered by a pupil for himself is
worth n thousand times more than II IL were told
10 him by the teacher Don't destroy the pleasure
n child derives from the facts that are revealed
/ 10 him by his own powers.
"Of course" continued Mr.. Straubenmulier. the
/ ideal way 20 teach nature IS by means of eXcur-
sions and school gardens. aquara and terrara, but
l you realize that there plenty OF nature
| material possible for you even without elaborate
equipments.
There is nothing better than to have competitive
/ flower raising. But have gardens, you say.
You don't need gardens Can It be doneT you ask.
| II has been done. 1 see principal here to-day
Who last year gave away thousand pots with
nouer raising the plants should be selected with
consideration 20 their adaptability TO pot growing.
DAYS after the seeds are planted being the most
When you begin the study OF trees. II there Is
park near you. have the children make maps Of
pars is available take isolated trees and set each
g.uld % observe what takes place in some partcu-
plentiful and easily come by. The migration nest
iu- ana hruoluE Of birds cannot well be observed
Uy .t. school children. but the forces OF nature.
as Represented uy the heat and light OF the sun.
as the country nay IL the horizon is not SO large
"a t0s her doesn't have 20 be- an expert botanlst
poor teacher nature is better than none for she
viii Keep Before tae cld the idea that nature *
lists. 10 iS better fo have few errors than that
-tolt iudirareare which IS the fruit OF the present
cause OF her lack Of knowledge little knowledge.
sary.
NOT TOO MUCH SCIENCE.
Don't try TO cover TOO much Don't bother the
/ younger children with ci3sSincatuus and termi-
I nologies Your object with the Nttest ones should
| be the development OF the chad rather than the
! subject-the arousing within him q sympathy for
/ life not the lupartnE or srlentlhc. know -ri[e
Nature study IS nothing but The old object les5oh
with n living growing subject 90 study. instead ~
/ q dead one. Children are most Interested ia animal
! life next in plant life, and On both more than pa
/ minerals. SO lay your emphasis nrst on animals
/ selecting those which nearest the child B. own
experience. children Interested ia Wlfolts
/ than iu halvos-so let them watch plant grow
from seed 90 blossom Instead ~ Keeping thfin on
leaves. which are only parts beN" . in' cNIll 8
powers Of observation before You ask MIN 10 COM
! mare or classify ~ YOU find a canary the easiest
/ lining TO begin on. take g. Why should YOU fuss 70
] ret "A English =rarrOE2 The teacher must select
tre things that she iS interested IN heTselt II she
1 would hope interest her class
/ Eve re called the nation 81 cut flowers" said
/ Mr. StraubenmuIler. IN conclusion. We have no
/ use Tor the ulaut-we want the finished product 10
wear in our huttouh0les. our hair but in the nt
J that bears the flower take no interest now
/ Ne v-ant TO rid ourselves OF This habit ~ mind
! reach your boys and girls 20 look al things as
/ wholes. and 10 look with syintatheilc eyes upon
/ every process and function