SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN BOARD SCHOOLS. 621 



ing much, that is ordinarily taught under mechanics and physics, 

 the prime object of which is to teach accuracy of observation. 

 You will then study a series of problems, mainly chemical, which 

 have been arranged chiefly in order to cultivate reasoning powers 

 and to teach the research method. In fact, what we Avant to do 

 is, as far as possible, to jDut every scholar in the position of the 

 discoverer. The world always has and ever will advance through 

 discovery; discoveries, however, are rarely made accidentally 

 indeed, we all pass from ignorance to knowledge by discovery, and 

 by discovering how to do things that we have not done before we 

 ever increase our powers of usefulness : we all require, therefore, to 

 be taught how to discover, although we may never be called on to 

 make original discoveries or have the opportunity. But as you pro- 

 ceed I trust that you will realize that the method which you are 

 learning to apply is one which can be made use of in all your 

 work that the course has a broad educational value far trans- 

 cending its special value as an introduction to physical science. 



Lastly, I should like to take this opportunity of calling atten- 

 tion to the very great value to girls, as well as to boys, of teach- 

 ing such as you are about to give. I fear that much that girls 

 are being taught under the guise of domestic economy is of slight 

 value educationally or otherwise, and that they are but having 

 imparted to them little tidbits of information which they are as 

 likely as not to misapply. Nothing is done by way of increasing 

 their intelligence and forming their characters. Lessons which 

 would lead them to be observant, thoughtful, and, above all, ex- 

 act lessons in method would be of far higher and abiding value. 

 They would then carry out their household functions with greater 

 ease ; there would be far less waste ; less unliealthiness ; far more 

 comfort. I believe the need for such training to be indeed far 

 greater in the case of girls than in that of boys. Boys are natu- 

 rally apt in many ways, and, even if neglected at school, perforce 

 develop when they go out into the world ; but girls are of a dif- 

 ferent disposition, and rarely seem to spontaneously acquire the 

 mental habits which a training in scientific method can confer, 

 the possession of which would be of inestimable value to them. 

 Extraordinarily little has been done as yet on their behalf, and 

 they have been cruelly sacrificed at examinations for which, un- 

 fortunately, they appear themselves to have an insatiable natural 

 appetite. It is to be hoped that the new board will give the most 

 serious attention to this matter, and that it will take steps to se- 

 cure the teaching of scientific method in all the schools under its 

 charge, whether boys' schools or girls' schools. Unhealthy build- 

 ings have attracted much attention; but the existence of a far 

 more serious evil the absence of healthy teaching suited to the 

 times has not even been noticed. 



