The Washington herald., 1921-07-27

10 be gained through the elementary
and scientific study of nature and
natural objects during the school
life of the child in the various
school grades
Little will be said here. important
as it is, in regard to teaching in an
elementary way what the inorganic
world has to offer along the lines
under consideration, although IL has
always been a matter of the keen
est pleasure to the writer to come
across an American boy in any one
of our public schools, who could
readily point out a specimen of mica
when he saw 1t; knew that iron
pyrites was not gold: and could tell
silver from lead in the ore. Beyond
this we have the vast range of or
ganic life to consider and IL is one
OF the simplest things in the world
to interest a child or a class of chill
dren in the study of what il pre-
sents.
The refining influences of such
studies are almost at once apparent,
the child's powers of observation
are enhanced: II leads to a Kindness
towards all living creatures: and
initiates against children's cruelty
to animals. All Of which tends to
elevate the mind and aspirations Of
the child, and lift il from savsgery
and ignorance into the realm Of
civilization.
Elementary studies of the min
ute living forms in nature response
BILE for many diseases in our own
species and in all other animals.
furnish the basic work that when
followed up in the higher schools
are so vital to the medical profess
sion and sanitarians generally.
Nature study for children is max
ing itself powerfully felt in such
important branches as geography
and geology. Indeed, in some Of
our best conducted public schools
nature study and geography are
taught hand ip hand
Where would scientific agriculture
be today were 1t not for our knowl.
edge of the habits of such insects
and spiders, and allied forms Shat
are either beneficial or harmful with
respect to the interests of our horti-
culturists, farmers and others? For
reasons which can in no way be
gainsaid. children in our public
schools should be trained. properly
drilled and instructed in all the pre-
liminary steps to such studies and
pursuits. Equally important Is IL,
and for similar reasons. they should
be early taught to recognize our
common fishes; know the simpler
things about their structure, habits,
migrations, economic uses, and value
to man.
A child that is ignorant Of all
such subjects falls below the plane
of savagery in the matter OF educa-
tion, and in the elementary schools
Of England and Germany would be
a laughing stock. An early knowl-
edge of reptiles is equally desirable,
and should be conducted along lines
to teach children the part that these
animals play in the economy of ma
ture, among other things which are
friends and which are the enemies
of man. Boys now, as rule, slay
every snake they meet within the
woods or fields. while, as a matter
of fact, but very few of our snakes
are venomous; one of our harmless
snakes feeds upon rattlesnakes; and.
finally. the great body of the snakes
in the United States stands among
the very best friends that the farm
ers have on their lands.
80 1t goes IOT OlneT Teplies' anu
so. too, it goes for our birds and
mammals. studies of the various spe-
cies, their habits and distribution
cannot be begun a day too soon In
the various grades of our public
schools.
Indeed, a very large part Of the
progress that has been made since
the biological sciences came TO be
appreciated. in agriculture. in the
arts. in medicine, to some respects
in law. in literature, in science. and
in nearly every other activity in
which man engages, has been due
to his advancing knowledge of all
that refers to the creatures below
i'm in nature. q
From the viewpoint of the writer.
those who stand opposed TO our chill
dren being instructed in the public
schools along the lines above indi-
Gated, are barriers standing In the
way of civilizations advance, and
enemies to the public's welfare. They
withhold from the coming genera
tions what is their lawful right, anc
there Is no more important object
10 be gained through public instruc-