The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-02-25
STUDY NATURAL SCIENCE;
. TRAINING For THE FARM
Growing Interest in Botany and Zoo
logy in Public Schools---Naluable
Herbarium Presented to Canton
LinL l.. A.. Z r

Growing Interest in Botany and Zoo
iogy in Public Schoole---Naluable
Herbarlum Presented to Canton
High by Mrs. r. 6. Case.
THE study of the natural sciences
in the high schools of the country
has been assuming, in the last five
or six years, more practical phase
in keeping with the great intellectu-
al awaking, and the economical de-
mands of the agriculture interests of
the country as the population grows
larger" said Prof. Samuel Zechar,
head of the biological department of
the Canton high school,
This especially is true at the To-
cal high school and the same condi-
ton is noticeable in a majority of
the secondary schools and, more 50
in the township high schools. Three
years ago Botany was the only
branch of natural science taught in
the local high school, that being
merely elective, but when the courses
of study were changed in the spring
of 1906 and put into effect the fol
lowing fall, biology was included
among the required studies"
Principal Armstrong, speaking of
the advanced step taken in this line
of high school work, said, that the
Canton school has not taken as radi-
cal steps in this direction as many
other schools in this state, but is to
a certain extent holding to conserva-
tive IDEAS"
Mr.. Zechar. in his teaching of
biology, is as radical as the school
permits, and puts an enthusiasm and
an inspiration into his teaching that
stimulates the pupils to their utmost
efforts. In the class room he tries
to get as near to nature as circum-
stances allow. In zoology, insects,
amphibians and other small animals
are introduced into the work and
much careful study devoted to exam
ining their physical structure and to
explaining their habits. In botany,
during the last half of the school
year, wheat, oats, beans and nearly
every common vegetable native to
and studied. To make the work
more. efficient and practical, when
the weather permits, small excur-
sion parties are organized among
the boys and girls of the school and
and woods adjoining Canton in search
of the beauties of nature and to study
the natural phenomena.
Mr.. Zechar said of the study of the
natural sciences: This branch of
the high school work has come into
disrepute among many people be-
cause some schools spend their time
with the technicalities connected
with the study, but we strive for the
practical and the economical in ma
tural science. We try to make the
students realize the great growing
demand for educated men in this
branch of mans work in country
where there is annually a destruction
of over $300,000,000 worth of the
crops. Botany and zoology are prac-
tical and we studied them in that
light"
Due to ambitions awakened by Mr..
Zechar's teaching several seniors,
who studied under him contemplate
taking up some special branch in
natural science, when they enter
college next fall with view to max
ing it their life work.
At present time the laboratory of the
high school is inadequate in its
equipment. The growing demand
for this branch has oyercrowded the
class rooms and there seems to be
urgent need for greater faiilities.
One valuable addition recently
made to the high school was a her
barium given to the school by Mrs.
F. E. Case, of North Market street.
The herbarium is the reward of
many years of patient labor by Mrs.
Case. 1t represents several hundred
varieties and species of Stark coun-
tvs flowers, vegetables and herbs.