Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-05-12
The Value Of Nature Study In the
Public Schools


The Value Of Nature Study In the
3 Public Schools
(PapeI read before the recent educa-
tional n Getting at Fairfield, and publish
4 ed Undsl the ausI ices of the Rock bridge
4, Teachers Association.)
l To my mind, programme OF daily
recitatlons for the primary grades, that
omits Nature Study, would be very 10.
complete. SO much has been said aud
written about this subject in recent
years that most teachers ara familiar
with 1t. and yet the question arises,
what is Nature Study and how
should 1t be taught In our schools,"
II Is study Of the phenomena found
about us-the common, everyday
things Of life we call them, but all the
more wonderful for that very reason.
Not great many years ago, botany,
20 ology, physiology, geology and
other ologies. were never helrd Of until
the High School was reached. Now
the beginning OF all these sciences is
taught In the lowest grades. or course,
little children are not given these long
names, but they learn Of the flowers,
the animals. the rocks, the birds
around them. This subject appeals to
children In way that arithmetic and
grammar. az such, could never do. It
is intensely interesting. One OF the
beauties OF this Nature Study Is, that
IL can be correlated with every other
subject. especially language. geography
and music. Some OF the best language
papers l have ever had were written I
upon simple subject such as 1.-THE
Dandelioa"; 1.-THE Blue Bird; "Jack
Frost; my Pets" d
Encourage the little folks to bring c
specimens to the schoolroom. They I
Jake great delight In bringing buds, '
lowers, minerals. todpoles. butterflies q
Ind many other things. Those OF us
Who teach In the country have a great :
advantage over city teachers Ia study.
ng nature. Often, In town, the teacher
las to resort to pictures Of the object u
he wants to teach. while In the coun-
~ che has the thing itself.
A few practical suggestions OF meth. Q,
DIG l have tried may be Of some help to vi
ther teachers. In the beautiful spring ~
line, keep Flower calendar" on
our board. that Is, write the names OF T
II flowers brought In during the az
Ionth. Keep weather record" the %
hole term, marking direction OF wind, :,
nnrise and sunset. temperature, etc.. yc
lus preparing the children for many =
aportant facts to be learned later as
the equinoxes, change OF season and -
lch things. II
Have live specimen brought into v
le school room at least once during tr'
Ie session. i have tried the rabbit. p.
is we'll behaved creature and the -
i!dreh enjoy watching it. The turtle n
also interesting for study, as are "
terpillars and butterflies. til
A language lesson, first oral. then CHI
fltten. should follow these nature ~, u,
Ike, and a simple drawing lesson
ght also be given, or q beautiful -
,mory gem from one OF our nature ~
cts, taught. LIE,
have left the question, why have Re-
ture study as a part OF our curricu. , lug
n"for the last. The answer would be, 80
ldy nature because, first Of all, II nm
ngs one close to God, and makes VI
8 fatherhood very real to all true HI
dents. Second. study nature, be. lie,
lse it makes one observe. 1t causes
ldren to use their eyes and ears and
ads more than they have ever done
ore. Third, Nature Study helps to to Il
Ike children gentle. and considerate COW
he lower forms OF life. VI"
want to close with this sweet
ught that Tennyson has 80 beauti- M.s
Iy expressed:- =
wer In the crannied wall,
pluck you out OF the crannies;-
ID you here, root and lin my hand, 1,
tie fower-but II could understand at m
hat you are, root and all, and all stree
40 All, stoT,
ould know what God and man ia