INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION ON OBSERVATION. 363 



phy is distinctly not a necessity, how is it possible but that geography 

 must go to the wall ? There is, indeed, another class subject recog- 

 nized by the Education Department in their New Code which would 

 cultivate observation even more, perhaps, than geography does 

 namely, elementary science. But we presume it is the opinion of the 

 Department itself (as it certainly is our own) that this subject will 

 not be largely used ; for, in the recently issued " Instructions to In- 

 spectors " it is passed over very cursorily, without the least indication 

 as to the parts of natural science to be preferred, or any more than 

 the vaguest as to methods. Elementary science will have a very up- 

 hill battle to fight if it is to win any real recognition, where the rec- 

 ognition of it involves the discarding of the more familiar geography, 

 which by the terms of the Code it does. But our fear is that geogra- 

 phy and elementary science will alike play but a poor part, in view of 

 the superior importance and extended meaning given to grammar in 

 the New Code. And, while some of the " specific subjects " of the 

 Code are such as would encourage the observant faculties,, these sub- 

 jects are taken up by so small a number of children as hardly to affect 

 the broad question Ave are discussing. 



A suggestion, however, has been made which, if it could be carried 

 out, would undoubtedly bring popular education into more direct re- 

 lations with the external world, and therefore encourage the observant 

 faculties more than is the case at present. This is that, just as girls 

 are taught needle-work, so boys should in the course of their education 

 be taught some elements of their future practical work in life. This 

 has especially been urged in the interests of agriculture, and it has 

 been thought that boys might be taught, while still at school, so much 

 of the rudiments of farming as would greatly improve their future 

 capacity. Of this proposal we can only say that we should be glad if 

 it could be found practicable, but we are afraid the difficulties of con- 

 necting practical farming with school-work would be found very great. 

 It might be easier to bring gardening into the school routine. But all 

 that can here be said is that this suggestion, like all others that tend 

 to relieve popular education from mere formalizing, deserves atten- 

 tion ; and that, if the difficulties which it appears to present could be 

 got over, it would certainly be a great benefit to the country. 

 Saturday Meview. 



