At the Shaw banquet in St. Louis the subject for the evening was
"Horticultural Education," and a good deal was said as to the
introduction of the study in the public schools.
On the question of its interfering with other school work, Prof.
Jackman of Chicago said: "The intimation has been thrown out here
to-night that perhaps the child's study of nature might interfere with
something else in the schools. I can assure such objectors that it will
interfere with some of the things they are taught. It will interfere
with some of the dull routine that you and I can recollect, which we
passed through when we were in these schools. The children have waited
all too long for such an interference."
State Superintendent of Schools Kirk, said: "It is my firm conviction
that a large part of what we now call 'geography' should be eliminated
from the school curriculum. Much of it is so worthless or misleading
as to retard education and exhaust the children's energies without any
definite purpose. Children should learn about the country they live in,
rather than the remote regions of Asia and the Arctic Zone."
One speaker declared that the recreation time can be restfully utilized
for nature-study work. Memory is good but observation is better, and
teachers are asking for specimens of fruits, nuts, grains, grasses,
woods, leaves, twigs, buds, and flowers.