PROMOTING "NATURE STUDY" IN SCHOOLS.
45
to the contents of the boxes, and all a teacher would have to do would be to read
the pamphlet a short time before giving a lesson. Schemes of lessons in the
schools in the vicinity of the museum would be more or less similar. It would be
quite a different matter if it were possible for a teacher, at his own request, to be
able to borrow occasionally some specimens to amplify a series of lessons already
given to his class. Even then it would be better for the class to visit the
museum. The loan collection, as advocated by some speakers this evening,
would undoubtedly tend to stereotype lessons and revive the old form of object-
lesson with all its worst faults.
The Chairman also deprecated the plan of loan collections, for he had seen
what had taken place under that system with people who had no real acquain-
tance with Nature and no enthusiasm.
Mr. A. P. Wire (Head-Master, Harrow-Green School, Leytonstone) gave
some details of the methods adopted in his school, where Nature-Study had been
carried on for years. His boys manifested keen interest in specimens gathered
by themselves and brought into the school. He was very glad to see that the
Essex Field Club was urging attention to this matter.
In concluding the business of the Conference, the Chairman
thought that they had had a most interesting discussion. The
various suggestions would be carefully considered by the Council
of the Club, and adopted, if in any way possible, in the conduct
of the two Museums. At the same time he thought that the
next movement must come from the teachers themselves.
In connection with the Conference Mr. Dymond (President)
and Mr. W. Cole (Hon. Secretary and Curator of the Essex
Field Club) conducted a series of four Demonstrations for
Teachers as follows:—
Saturday, June 5th.—Meeting on Epping Forest and at the
Epping Forest Museum. With the Walthamstow Head
Teachers' Association.
Saturday, June 12th.—Forest ramble from Loughton to
Chingford, and discussion in the Epping Forest Museum in the
evening. With the School Nature-Study Union.
Saturday, June 19th. Field Nature-Study Demonstration in
Hainhault Forest, "The Struggle for Existence in the Plant-
World and Insect-life in the Woods." And discussion in a room
at Foxburrows Farm in the evening. With the West Ham and
District Educational Conference.
Monday, June 21st.—Evening meeting at the Essex Museum
of Natural History, for discussion of the results of previous
ramble and assistance in the identification of specimens, etc.