The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-06

Among Aidmore teachers who at.
tended the district conference of the
Oklahoma Educational Association at
Durant The latter part of the week
was Mrs G.. u. Washington, principal
of Second Ward school
Mrs Washington delivered an in
spring address ON "How to Teach
Children to Observe bringing out
many points with special reference to
the importance of the study of nature
lore saying in part
"a good Methodist bishop has said
he would rcverently add to the beati-
tudes, Blessed are those who help us
10 see, He also adds All the good
must pray to God, help US to see and
later he voices the thought in words
every good, conscientious teacher
might echo Teach me to see, lest /
be poor beyond the depths Of poverty
and thereby impoverish the minds and
souls of children who are in my care
"The pity Of this world is not its
limitations. but ours. Into the earth
as into a kings golden goblet God has
poured everything which ministers to
our immortal and growing life
ITO go abroad is not our need. To
stay home and have the varied inter
ests Of nature report to us is culture
( Common things can be exalted into
uncommon loveliness. All the year is
hospitable if we are nelghborly and
one great nature teacher has said that
it is every teachers duty to go into
the fields and highways every Satur.
dSy--to be with God in His out-of
DOORS where one writer has said. Cod
is out there looking His premises over
and if He will let me I will so with
Him. As ] look His way to ask Hin
if I may go, He, looking my ways
before say word, says. Come let us
go into my out-of-doors, and | an
going with Him into His out.of.doors.'
THE teacher who is thoroughly in
fused with nature love, and nature
lore will ever strive to translate beau
| tiful things into beautiful thoughts
and beautiful thoughts into .beautifu
/ deeds. thereby making the mental lif,
richer. the conduct nobler and the
culture broader, for every child whit
/ comes under his or her influence.
The First Vision
1T is said that nature study SHOULD
| be accurate but that does not NEAR
the Completeness that will later COM
In the science and laboratory 1t il
not so much knowledge as spirit, tha
world.spirit, or still small voice or "a
someone has said, Education by at
mosphere' Most Of the criticism ha
been made 10y scientists who fear tn
work is too desultory or fragmentary
The childs mind is fragmentary at thi
ago and real nature study is goo,
science within its limits. Train hi
growing mind and spirit with tn
things he can grasp and the broade
outlook will dawn upon him in du
season. but as one great teacher ha
said, Whatever you do, see to it tha
the childs first vision is glorious
Yes. make the first vision glorious
and can that be done by always talk
ing about the bug, the bee. or the bird
or shall it be as far as possible il
Gods out-of-doors, with the bug. tn
bee, and the bird
How this work shall be presented
when it can come on the program
whether il shall have separat
period, or be taught mcidently or i
correlation with other subjects. mus
be worked out by individual teacher
and schools--but make the first visio
glorious
The Study of Bird Life
"Tho particular phase of this wor
in which all teachers should be mos
Interested is the study Of bird lf,
They are so bright and CHEEKY, thei
colors so exquisite their movement
so graceful and their habits and b,
havior so varied and interesting. tina
they are mquestionably the best sui
jects for nature study
From the economic point of vie,
the scientist has proven to us thG
they are most valuable in desroyin
harmful Insects, man can fight N
/, weeds of field and garden but h
stands alnost helpless before III