Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-03-29
Five rlinute Educational Talks.

ADVANTAGES OF NATURE STUDY OF
course the school as a public institution
does not escape its share of cnuclsm
How often "a parent says, "My boy. OF
girl, doesn't know his Cor her) a. b, c's.
| have 10 patience with our modern
methods of teaching. The schools are
nothing like so good-as the old schools
were" When asked 10 recall their Own
early school-dayS, if they could read or
spell better than their own child, when
at his age, they hesitate and say, "WeIl,
| don't know as could, now come to
think of it," The mistake is, that they
are looking at the matter from their
present standpoint.
But criticism has its place, if it be
wholesome, just, and in the spirit Of
helpfulness. One modern method which
receives great criticism is, the teaching
of Nature Study.
In a few words We wish to point out
some advantages in having this subject
in our schools. In the tilSt place, the
ann is to teach observation. Sometimes
teacher asks IA class to name the dit
ferent things they saw Oh their way
to school. More than one child will
come from the same direction. Ask
them individually, some will say they
saw nothing special others can give a
long list of objects seen BY repeated
questions, those who did not see any
thing special, will begin to open THEN
eyes, to look about them.
Many an older person goes through
life without seeing half the beauties
there are in this world of ours. Oul
Heavenly Father has placed us in thi:
world, with all the wonderful thin Q,
about us, that we might better enjoy it
Who can truly study nature, withou
seeing Gods handiwork
This subject may be taught in al
grades. All children are interested to {
greater or less degree in flowers auC
birds. Both of these add beauty anC
happiness to our lives. Every child is
familiar with some of them. Children
are true philosophers, but as we grow
older, we take things as we find then
without reasoning out why.
Besides teaching observation, natur
study also teaches the child to expires
himself. BY observation the child find
out facts which interest him, then he i
anxious to tell them to others He thu
increases his vOcabulary These natur
study lessons make interesting write
lessons for English classes.
From the study OF flowers, the chill,
learns how seeds are carried from plac
to place, aud thus learns how to pre-
vent the seeds of obnoxious plants bein
carried to localities where they wi
sprilg up and choke ont profitable crops
From the study of birds, the chill
learns that each little bird has its plaC
to fill in this world. Some of the st
called bird enemies are really friends t
~. ga
Take for instance the crow, the thit
of the cornheld. If we study into tt
matter and watch him closely, we wi
find that, although he may take h
meals from the young plants, he ais
does much good by destroying the grul
and insects which are sure death
corn. He thus does more good tina
harm to the farmers cornfield. 1t
the same with the bIueay, anotht
hated bird. He destroys insects whic
would injure our fruit crops. MAJ
more might be mentioned, but | vi
only mention one more. That is ii
hawk.
There are many species Of hawl
but ouly third of them are injurio'
But if a hawk is seen, it mast he sh
right away, regardless Of the specie
Now, if children are taught these thing
when in school, we should not have