VI COMPANION TO TROPICAL READERS 



"Plants in pots, boxes, or glasses, should be grown 

 in the schoolroom for illustrative purposes. As far as 

 possible, knowledge respecting plants should be gained 

 through practical illustrations and simple experiments." 



Much has been written and said about the true aim 

 of education, and it has long been generally conceded 

 that the child is not to be crammed with facts, but 

 rather that his reasoning powers are to be developed. 

 A good teacher will make all subjects educational in the 

 highest sense of the word, but it is claimed, with con- 

 viction, that the subjects under the head of Science come 

 facile princeps as a means of developing a child's faculties. 

 The mental discipline derived from such training should 

 produce men and women determined to take pains, and 

 capable of doing so efficient and cheerful workers, able 

 to adapt themselves to new circumstances. 



This may seem a great deal to claim for any subject, 

 but there is sufficient evidence to warrant such hopes. 

 Further, it has long been noticed that the teacher who 

 habitually pays special attention to " Science ' : and 

 " Nature Study " will form the habit of devoting more 

 time to orderly thought about, and careful preparation 

 for, all his subjects. 



There are difficulties in the way of carrying out the 

 suggestions made difficulties that are not peculiar to 

 Jamaica, but they will disappear when serious and per- 

 sistent endeavours are made to overcome them, as has 

 been already proved in some cases. 



I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to those 

 who have assisted me in preparing this little work. 



E. JOCELYN WOETLEY. 



Government Farm School, 

 Kingston, Jamaica. 



