File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18161273005).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo15amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM'S REPTILE GROUPS IN RELATION TO HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY By George W. Hunter Chief of Biology, DeWitt Clinton High School, New York City THE concept of "adaptation to environment" is one of the most difficult to teach pupils of high school age, whereas it is one of the most valuable from the civic stand- point.^ Particularly is this true of New I The DeWitt Chnton High School of New York City has classes in biology each year containing between two and three thousand young men. The American Book Company has recently published a small volume by Mr. Himter on civic biology for liigh schools, from •which the following is quoted. The quotation gives a glimpse of the aim of the work: "Field (and Museum) trips, when properly organized and later used as a basis for discussion in the class room, make a firm foundation on which to build the superstriicture of a coiu-se in biology. The normal environment, its relation York City boys and girls, because of their lack of previous knowledge of the to the artificial environment of the city, the relations of mutual give and take existing be- tween plants and animals, are better shown by field and museum trips than in any other way." ...."Many of us live in the city, where the crowded streets, the closely packed apartments and the city playgroiinds form our environment. It is very artificial at best. . . . We must remember that in learning sometloing of the natural environ- ment of other living creatures we may better imderstand our own environment and our rela- tion to it."...."The physiological functions of plants and animals, the hygiene of the indivadual witliin the community, conservation and the bet- terment of existing plant and animal products, the big underlying biological concepts (such as adaptation) on wliich society is built, have all been used (in the book) to the end that the pupil will become a better, stronger and more imselfish citizen."— Editor. 405

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