124 THE PLANT WORLD. 



proved if one subject only — either botany or zoology — were 

 taught for the entire year. Dr. Wight advocated botany because 

 of its higher aesthetic value, and because a certain degree of cor- 

 relation with zoologv could be brought about in the lower ])lant 

 forms — (which could then be treated from the evolutional stand- 

 point) — and in the cases where there are interrelations between 

 plants and insects. The objection that plants are farther removed 

 from humanity than animals, and that the zoological side of the 

 subject is thus almost wholly neglected, would be counterbalanced 

 by the advantage of a fuller knowledge of the local flora, and 

 the sounder scholarship which would thus be induced. 



Dr. Gunnison, of the Erasmus Hall High School, who followed 

 Dr. Wight, declared that biology has not the same determining 

 efifect upon the life of the pupil that the other suljjects have. 

 There is alwavs a certain proportion of students who like one or 

 more of the other subjects well enough to desire to continue them 

 further in the high school course. This is not the case with biol- 

 ogy, as few students profess interest in this science. Dr. Gun- 

 nison suggested that the trouble might lie in the fact that the 

 city is the wrong place in which to teach biology. All the charm 

 which comes from seeking out and finding the desired object is 

 necessarily lost in the city course ; thus the vital force is missed, 

 and the subject is not a success. 



Dr. Denbigh, of the Morris High School, was the last speaker. 

 He expressed the opinion that it would be well-nigh impossible 

 to make the first-year biology course too simple. This course is 

 successful when it secures three objects — the power of scientific 

 thinking, as wide a knowledge as possible of the animal and vege- 

 table kingdoms, and the development of a permanent interest 

 which will increase the pupil's power of enjoyment in his sur- 

 roundings. From this point of view, the insistence upon details 

 of structure and elaborate drawings is pernicious ; precise scholar- 

 ship should not be exacted or expected. Dr. Denbigh emphasized 

 the fact that field work can be most valuable in arousing interest ; 

 and the importance of learning biology is exactly proportional to 

 the difficulty of reaching the plant or animal. This subject pro- 

 vides a training which the student lacks and therefore needs ; and 



