446 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



school students being occupied with each of these subjects in 1900 than 

 in 1890. But the percentage of students taking work in science has 

 actually fallen off. The figures are taken from reports of the Com- 

 missioner of Education at Washington. 



Greek is the only language that suffered a decline. The falling off 

 in the number pursuing physics and chemistry is out of all harmony 

 with modern industrial demands ; students of these subjects in scientific 

 and technical schools are being called to positions before they have 

 graduated. Among those preparing to enter college, the sciences are 

 losing ground, the classics gaining. In 1889-90, 51 per cent, of stu- 

 dents preparing for college were preparing to enter the classical course, 

 and 49 per cent, the scientific; in 1895-96, 52 per cent, were preparing 

 for the classical, and 48 per cent, for the scientific; in 1899-00, 56 

 per cent, were preparing to enter the classical and 44 per cent, the 

 scientific. The number of competent science teachers is now short of 

 the demand, though language teachers are far in excess of it. 



Coeducation has its share in forming sentiment and shaping in- 

 struction. The high school must suit its curriculum to the needs of 

 its pupils; it has to give what is demanded. Since girls are in a de- 



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Growth in Number of Teachers Employed (1857-1900) in Typical State of Illinois. 



cided majority, and the number of women teachers is in excess of the 

 men, it is not strange that cultural courses receive the most attention. 

 Below the high school a still higher percentage of teachers are 

 women. A circumstance that shows the effect of this on school work 

 occurred to our notice a few years ago in a certain county of California. 

 The attempt was made to introduce a little elementary physics into the 

 ninth grade of grammar schools. The community was mainly rural; 

 and it was thought that since most of the boys left school from that 

 grade, it would be well to teach them the simple mechanical laws of 

 pulley, lever, wheel and axle, screw, etc., to apply to their farm experi- 

 ence. It was a laudable design; but it was a failure. The teachers 



