44 PROMOTING "NATURE STUDY" IN SCHOOLS.
Mr. A. Watkins, His Majesty's Inspector of Schools for the district covered
by the Conference, said he was strongly in favour of Nature-Study being systema-
tically taken in the schools, and whilst he would not attempt to enforce it, he
would certainly encourage this work in every possible way. The common defect of
such lessons was that they were made too formal and "bookish," the result being
that the children's interest in their natural surroundings was not aroused, and
habits of close observation were not developed. They had in this district excel-
lent opportunities for a real study of Nature, if they would only make good use of
the neighbouring Forest and marshes, and of two most interesting Museums at
Stratford and Chingford. He said he would give every facility for classes of chil-
dren to visit the Forest and Museums in school hours, provided they were under
the care of a teacher interested in Nature, who would ensure that such visits were
of real educational interest and value. He suggested that it was for the teachers
to first qualify themselves as efficient guides to the study of Nature by children,
and in this direction the desire of the Essex Field Club to place its Museums
and officers at the service of the teachers was something to be appreciated and
encouraged. Mr. Watkins urged the teachers not to look upon Nature-Study
as an additional subject to an apparently overcrowded school curriculum, but to
regard it as an educational agent or instrument of the highest value in develop-
ing the faculties of their scholars, and at the same time establishing an attitude
of study which should have a growing interest and an elevating influence for
all time. With regard to specimens for use in the class-room, Mr. Watkins
suggested that the best thing to do was to encourage the children to collect
specimens for themselves, and thus form a school collection in which they would
have a personal interest. These specimens could also be profitably used in the
drawing lessons. It should also be possible for education authorities to arrange
for a supply of natural specimens in season from the various public parks and
gardens of the district.
Mr. Henry Bryett (the Secretary of the West Ham Educational Conference
and Head-Master of the Channelsea School) said that many of the teachers in
the Borough, who were working in mean streets, were in the position of those
who wanted to learn. A child must be shown unexpected wonders in the
apparently commonplace, and the spirit of discovery aroused. But observation
is best trained upon the sights of every day. A Stratford boy should rather
learn of the beetles in the ditches and of the weeds on the marshes where he
wanders in his idle moments, than of the flora of the countryside. Let him
learn of the stickleback and the dandelion. If those who knew could survey
West Ham and district and evolve a series of lessons suitable for the school
children, who could then gather and examine their own specimens, it would be a
good thing. And he suggested that if the Essex Field Club could get out a
syllabus for adoption in the schools it would be an advantage. A series cf
demonstrations in the field, organised by members of the Club, would, he was
sure, be highly appreciated and largely attended by the local teachers.
Mr. Robert Paulson, F.R.M. S. (Head-Master, L.C. C, Mixed School, Dalston),
said that it had been suggested by more than one speaker that a loan collection
should be arranged so that boxes, each containing a certain number of museum
specimens and a descriptive pamphlet, could be passed from school to school. It
was said to have worked well (in Liverpool?). Surely nothing could be more
opposed to the methods advocated by those who have done so much to introduce
Nature-Study into our schools. A syllabus would have to be drawn up according