It requires nice
discrimination, a comprehensive grasp of relations, and a power to
seize and hold common characteristics. Many of our text-books and
courses of study are based chiefly upon this idea.
5. _System-making_, or the reduction of all things in nature to a
systematic whole, with a place for everything. Some of the greatest
scientists, Linnaeus, for example, looked upon scientific
classification as the chief aim of nature study. It has had a great
influence upon schools and teachers. The attempt to compress
everything into a system has led to many text-books which are but brief
summaries of sciences like zoology, botany, and physics. Scientific
classification is very important, but the attempt to make it a leading
aim in teaching children is a mistake.
We may add that nature study is felt by all to offer abundant scope to
the exercise of the esthetic faculty. There is great variety of beauty
and gracefulness in natural forms in plant and animal; the rich or
delicate coloring of the clouds, of birds, of insects, and of plants,
gives constant pleasure. Then there are grand and impressive scenery
and phenomena in nature, and melody and harmony in nature's voices.
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