The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-01

A unique work is being done in the
National History museum OF New
York in teaching children to over
come their fear of animals. 1t is a
part of their instruction in natural
history, actually a first step, and a
necessary one, for until they have
overcome their feeling Of repulsion TO
an animal or insect they are not able
10 study it properly. Through the
self-consciousness of fear they do not
take in the details Of the subjects
brought TO their notice.
Through the work Of Mrs. Agnes l..
Roesler, who for the last two years
has occupied the position known at the
museum as instructor" many chill
dren have learned to look at animals
from an entirely different viewpoint
from that which they learn uncon-
sciously at home. The most fastldious
little girl finally sees nothing but de-
llghtful pet in small snake, holds it
tenderly in her hands, beseeches 1t for
touch of its soft forked tongue on
the cheek, and ooddles an ugly look
ing toad with real pleasure.
The work OF the instructor is unique
in itself. and was frst tried when
Mrs. Roesler Joined the museum forces
two years ago. Her work, while to
some extent with the grown people
she takes through the museum giving
them various facts of interest. is
chiefly with the children.
These she reaches through lectures
In one of the museum halls to 200 or
300 at time, in classes of children
usually from the public but sometimes
from the private schools, who are
studying some special subject. She
takes them to the parts Of the museum
where they find the subjects they re-
Quire, and in individual children, not
large number, some Of them children
o! museum members, who come to the
museum at regular intervals for in
structions. There are also individual
groups of children picked up casually
as they come as visitors who welcome
instruction gladly and are apt pupils.
All the instruction given, whether
individual or n classes. has the one
point emphasized that the children
must overcome needless fear. They
are told that there are certain ami
mails with which courage should be
tempered with discretion. The teach
ing does not inculcate false sentimen-
tality toward the animals. This is
carefully avoided. When the children
show a tendency toward it they re-
ceive more instruction tending to give
them a better understanding Of ma
! ture's laws.
Few children would have fear. Mrs.
Roesler says. II they grew up natur-
ally. Becoming fearless, they often
merely unlearn at the museum some
thing that they have acquired else
where
There are not many children" said
Mrs. Roesler, speaking of'the subject
one day last week, who have a nat
ural antipathy TO animals of any kind.
There are in some a fear, which seems
! to be revival OF the primitive in
stinct, but 1t is not usual. One little
girl who came into the room where
other children were handling the
snakes today actually turned pale at
sight of them. She. know, has been
brought up sensibly at home and TO
fear nothing, but for some reason she
was really frightened. But when she
saw that the other children were not
afraid she was soon quite willing to
take a snake herself She turned
away from It's head at first, but when
assured that 1t would not bite she lost
even that fear.