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TWO CONFERENCES ON THE USE OF
MUSEUMS IN PROMOTING "NATURE STUDY"
IN SCHOOLS.
Saturday, October 10th, 1908, and Saturday, February 20th, 1909.
WITHIN the last few months the Essex Field Club has
held two Conference-meetings with a view of discussing
the above-named subject from more than one point of view, and
as these meetings were so nearly allied, it seems desirable to
report them both under a general heading.
The first conference was held on Saturday, October 10th,
1908, at the Franco-British Exhibition, in which there was so
much of high scientific and educational interest. The main
object of the meeting was to demonstrate the value of some of
the exhibits as illustrations of the methods which may be
employed in promoting and encouraging "Nature Study'' in
schools, and to discuss the best mode of utilising local museums
as centres and standards of reference in such instruction. The
programme directed special attention to the efforts which the
Club has made, and is making, to building up two typical local
museums, namely, the notable Essex Museum of Natural
History, Stratford, and the Epping Forest Museum, Chingford.
The company assembled at noon in the Congress Hall at the
head of the magnificent Court of Honour (the use of which has
been kindly granted by the Exhibition authorities).
A considerable number of members and friends taking an
interest in education and the spread of the study of nature were
present.
The President of the Club, Mr. T. S. Dymond, F.I.C, of
the Board of Education, took the chair, and welcomed the
visitors and members. He said:—
In the Education Section of the buildings was a most valuable and
instructive exhibition of work done by scholars in the study of nature, and it was
thought well that they should meet there to discuss the use of exhibits in the
promotion of Nature-Study, and the services which may be rendered by local
museums. An exhibition is a temporary museum, a museum is a permanent
exhibition. That is the only difference, and, moreover, the objects are similar.