NOTES 667 



one. Of the thirty-five largest and best-known public schools, thirty-four have 

 classical men as headmasters. Science holds no place in the list. The examina- 

 tions for entrance into Oxford or Cambridge, and for appointments into the Civil 

 Service and the Army, are among the greatest determining factors in settling the 

 kind of education given at our public schools. . . . For entrance into Woolwich, 

 Science has within the last few years been made compulsory, but for Sandhurst it 

 still remains optional. This college is probably the only military institution in 

 Europe where science is not included in the curriculum. The result of this 

 system ... is a neglect of the study of the natural sciences, and to some extent 

 an indifferent, not to say contemptuous, attitude towards them." The Memorandum 

 ends by urging a reform in this matter " which is vital to the continued existence 

 of this country as a great power," and is supported by a strong memorial from the 

 Imperial College of Science and Technology. 



We regret that we have no space in this number of Science Progress to 

 deal with this all-important matter, but hope to do so in the next number. In 

 the meantime we should add that the Educational and the Science-and-State 

 Committees of the British Science Guild are combining to take action with 

 regard to the whole subject. The feeling in the country on this matter is un- 

 doubtedly strong, and the specialised press has not been silent. For example, 

 the Financial News for February 3 says that "every man who wants to see 

 his country great, progressive, and prosperous . . . should back the scientists with 

 every ounce of energy he possesses. If, otherwise, he wishes to see her mean, 

 petty, retrogressive, squalid, and contemptible, let him support a return to our 

 debasing party strifes, with their concomitant triumph of the political schemer and 

 all the host of parasites whom he enriches out of public money." We have 

 ventured sometimes to criticise our party politics ; but this extract will show that 

 we do not stand alone in this criticism. And our contemporary, Nature, continues 

 its series of powerful leading articles on matters connected with science and the 

 State— articles with which we are always in strong agreement. 



The Memorandum referred to above, and a considerable correspondence con- 

 nected with it, are published together in the Educational Supplement of the 

 Times of March 7, 1916, together with excellent leading articles precising the 

 points at issue. It looks as if the grammarians are getting the worst of it, and 

 indeed we are glad to know that several Headmasters, such as Mr. Nowell Smith 

 of Sherbourne, are more or less in favour of the proposals to introduce more 

 science into British education. We invite the reader's attention to the excellent 

 letter by Prof. Strong in this number of Science PROGRESS, with its brief but 

 comprehensive list of much-needed educational reforms. 



The British Science Guild 



The British Science Guild is constantly increasing its activities on behalf of 

 science and men of science. We may note that since September last it issues a 

 publication called The Journal of the British Science Guild, detailing some of its 

 activities. The Preface furnishes a succinct summary of the objects of the Guild, 

 which may be put into the two words Organisation of Science. The Preface 

 adds: "The immediate need of the British Empire is the organisation of its vast 

 resources and their scientific application to the colossal struggle in which we are 

 engaged. To these ends we must for the time being apply all our energies. But 

 we must not lose sight of the future." The first number of the journal contains the 

 proceedings at the ninth annual meeting, the President (the Rt. Hon. Sir William 



