250 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The suggestions offered in this paper are in harmony with the 

 conclusion that many of the phenomena accomj)anying volcanic 

 eruptions are due to the escape of steam occluded in molten lava, 

 but are opposed to the hypothesis that the rise of lavas from 

 deeply seated sources is due to the same cause. The source of 

 the heat and the source of the pressure manifest when a magma 

 rises through a volcanic conduit are considered to be distinct, 

 and in the main of different origin. 



NATURAL HISTORY IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS 



OF FRANCE. 



By fanny BIGNON. 



DURING the last few years instruction in our primary schools 

 has been undergoing an interesting evolution. The authori- 

 ties have broken away from superannuated traditions, and have 

 arranged courses of a wholly new character. There are no more 

 long analyses, endless conjugations, and dictations of catchwords. 

 While language, according to the tyrant of words and syllables, 

 may be a loser by this change, I wish to show that science, and 

 especially natural history, is a gainer. 



The natural sciences have indeed had a place in the primary 

 schools, and, in order to get his certificate of graduation, a child 

 of eleven years was obliged to make a compilation on some such 

 subject as the following : 



1. Breathing. What happens to the air in the lungs ? A part 

 of this air combines ivitli the heat of the blood. Results. (This 

 topic was given at Brest in 1893.) 



2. Digestion. Absorption of foods. Stomachic digestion. In- 

 testinal digestion. (Herault, 1893.) 



3. What is an insect ? Transformations of insects. (Haute- 

 Garonne, 1894.) 



4. A flower. Its composition. The role of pollen. Describe 

 the ovary. (Herault, 1893.) 



5. The characteristics of lime. Its function in the soil. Means 

 used to furnish lime to soils which lack it. (Meuse, 1893.) 



From these examples it will be seen that all branches of natu- 

 ral history are touched upon, but i^hysiology is treated more fully. 

 We will not stop to criticise the method of putting the questions, 

 and possibly some of the inaccuracies of statement may be laid to 

 typographical errors. They are taken from a work by Messrs. 

 Barreau and Bouchet, the former a supervisor at Paris, the latter 

 a college principal. 



But let us consider the methods used to give to our children 



