270 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Society, we may safely admit, is not 

 perfect ; and if the anarcliist can point 

 out possible improvements, then he is a 

 helper from whom we should not turn 

 away. But metaphysical views of the 

 nature of state can give no help in any 

 practical problem. 



Beixg convinced by the course of 

 recent events that the public needs pro- 

 fessional guides in social affairs, the So- 

 ciety for Education Extension, of Hart- 

 ford, Conn., has projected a School of 

 Sociology, to be opened in the present 

 autumn. Chester D. Hartranft, D. D., 

 is to be its president, and among the 

 lecturers already secured are Professors 

 John Bascom, Austin Abbott, Otis T. 

 Mason, William Libbey. Jr., William M. 

 Sloane, and William O. Atwater, We 

 have long maintained that definite laws 

 underlie the phenomena of human so- 

 ciety, or, in other words, that a science 

 of sociology is possible. We should be 

 glad to see a good institution for re- 

 search and instruction in this field estab- 

 lished, and hope that the undertaking 

 of the Hartford society will meet with 

 all deserved success. 



LITERARY NOTICES. 



Systematic Science Teaching. By Edward 

 Gardnier Howe. International Educa- 

 tion Series, No. 27. New York : D. Ap- 

 pleton & Co., 1894. Pp. 326. Price, $1.50. 



This is a book the value of which to the 

 educator, both parent and teacher, it would 

 be difficult to overestimate. To the advanced 

 instructors of to-day the value of science 

 teaching is no longer in question. The book 

 is full of suggestion, and shows the line of 

 investigation adapted to each province of 

 Nature. 



Dr. Harris well says, in his preface, that 

 the pupil must get not only the dead results 

 but also the living method the method 

 of observation and discovery ; that the pow- 

 ers of observation are strengthened.-chiefly 

 by learning to think about what one sees; 

 that seeing only fails to produce that culti- 

 vation of observation that the capacity for 



scientific observation produces the act of 

 recognizing, not the mere seeing, giving 

 scientific knowledge. He goes on to say : 

 " Science leads to invention, and invention 

 leads to the demand for a scientifically edu- 

 cated class of laborers. Education emanci- 

 pates the laborer from the deadening effects 

 of repetition and habit, the monotony of 

 mere mechanical toil, and opens to him a 

 vista of new inventions and more useful 

 combinations." The necessity is suggested 

 for the introduction of the results and meth- 

 ods of science into the elementary schools 

 as early as possible, in view of their influ- 

 ence upon civilization. 



Mr. Howe's work is very carefully graded, 

 and he insures the constant interest of the 

 pupil by a happy selection of objects from 

 Nature. The most valuable feature, however, 

 of this work is the detailed hints and direc- 

 tions to the teacher and pupil, that will se- 

 cure correct and accurate habits of scientific 

 observation. 



The results of this systematic teaching 

 of science have been exceedingly satisfac- 

 tory. Interest has rarely flagged, and the 

 senses have been developed to a surprising 

 degree; the hand has been trained in the 

 art of experiment, and the mental powers 

 have made a steady and healthy growth. 

 An exactness and freedom of expression 

 have been attained which is the truest index 

 of a mind full of observed facts and trained 

 to the thoughtful consideration of matters 

 presented. The advanced pupil has gone to 

 the study of books with ease and profit, but 

 the work has reached deeper and further; 

 the inborn love of childhood for birds, flow- 

 ers, and pretty stones has quickly responded 

 to wise encouragement and become the pres- 

 ent source of much happiness, and this of 

 the purest sort. Incidentally tending to 

 keep out low pleasures, it has been in many 

 cases the prelude to the recreations of ma- 

 ture life. 



That with the pleasurable acquiring of 

 much useful knowledge the sense can be 

 quickened, the mental powers developed, and 

 a loving interest in ever-present and pure 

 things be fostered, which in mature life shall 

 render us in a great degree independent of 

 time, place, or man's device for needed rec- 

 reation, is certainly all that need be said in 

 its favor. 



