Evening star., 1915-01-05
MUSEUMS and The PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

The public museums IN many cltles
are extending the scope of their work
so as to come in direct touch with the
public schools. They are placing their
resources at the disposal Of teachers
end pupils In such a manner as to
strengthen the practical side OF educa-
ttonal work. Geography. history.
anatomy. botany and other sciences are
being presented more vividly through
the help of the museums.
The help is given in a number OF
ways Small travelling museums are
arranged. which pass from one school
to another under the direction OF the
SUPERINTENDENT of public schools. Spe-
c,al lectures on scientific subjects are
given to school children by members
Of tho museum staff. Teachers in diff
ferent subjects are invited to bring
classes to the museums. where speci-
mems not easily transported TO tne
echoolroom are displayed In manner
most helpful to the understanding Oh
the child. In number OF otner aSs maSs
to yield higher efficiency in the eou-
cation of the public
In some cities a special museum for
the public schools is being ORGANIZED
through the cooperation of museums
which have already become established.
The Educational Museum of the St
Louis Public Schools is the best ex-
ample of this effort. 1t has been De
yeloped since the st. Louis worlds fair
of 1904 and has now reached thor
oughly organized status During the
period of the fair the teachers OF the
public schools were permitted to bring
their classes to the exhibition and take
them from building to building. Where
the exhibitions were carefully explained
to them. The cotton industry OF the
southern states, the cultivation OF rub
t,, nf Venezuela.
of tea in China, of rice in Japan, they
saw represented by the real products
In all of the different stages OF growth
and development.
The closing of the exposition was a
matter of regret to the teachers and
the members of the board of education.
because they realized the loss of the
means of Illustrating such work the
board of education appealed to some
of the exhibitors to donate part OF
their exhibits to the public schools OF
the city: A number of donations thus
procured formed the nucleus of the
educational museum which has lately
been thoroughly organized. Much ma
terial was needed to fill up the gaps
between the different donations made.
The board of education sent out ap-
peals to most of the large museums of
the country for help, and liberal re-
sponsss are still being received from
of Chicago, the Philadelphia Museum,
the Smithsonian Institution, the Public
Museum of Milwaukee and several
others.
The United States Department of
Agriculture gave a large collection of
plants and
Government Added fbers. The bu-
to the Collection. les donated
specimens of the different kinds of fish
found in American waters. Owners OF
mines and quarries donated collections
of ores stones and minerals. Manufac-
turers and importers, both In this
country and abroad, have presented
collections of various kinds of indus
trial products such as cotton, wool,
silk, rubber. coffee, tea, cork, leather,
glass and other products. Most of
them show the different stages In de-
velopment and manufacture.
AS the collections were received they,
were assorted and classified in ac-
cordance with the courses of study fol-
lowed in the different schools. Among
ing cereals. in the plant and the grain,
and their products; coffee. tea, sugar,
spices, etc: materials for clothing. in
cluding the different varieties of ami
ferent fabrics made from linen and
cotton; tree products, including domes-
tic and foreign woods. rubber. cam
phor, cork in all stages of preparation
and materials for dyeing and tanning;
and industrial products, showing the
various stages of manufacture of glass,
paper, leather, pens. pencils. ink and
other products which are being in
creased continually.
The group of articles and models
representing the life and occupations
of the different peoples of the world is
one of the most Interesting and is be-
ing continually enlarged. 1t includes
wearing apparel implements. models
Of houses, Industrial habits and other
material illustrating the different races
and their environments.
The animal collection includes
mounted and dried specimens Of ami
mails and
Animal Collection insects and
Is Carefully Grouped. saz,ran, so an aa ~
specimens preserved in alcohol. These