THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN LIBERAL EDUCATION 495 



Doctrine. Early in his education the student recognizes science 

 as a human achievement and reahzes that man's cultural his- 

 tory strongly influences his scientific progress. Astronomy and 

 other facets of ancient science are studied in connection with 

 the history of Greece and the Mediterranean world. Conser- 

 vation is correlated with a study of the medieval ideal, so evi- 

 dent in monasticism, of an intelligent and reverent use of God's 

 natural gifts in a harmonious social life. The study of the 

 American way of life as it developed from colonial to modern 

 times provides ample opportunity for the student to become 

 familiar with modern scientific methods, either by actual ex- 

 periments or by vicarious means, and to become aware of its 

 successful application in modern technology. 



The elementary science teacher has the additional responsi- 

 bility of providing a proper attitude and orientation. Conse- 

 quently, facts must always be distinguished from hypotheses; 

 intuitive principles that will later form the basis of science must 

 be recognized when met; nature must not be confused with 

 mechanics. Understanding and meanings are more important 

 than methods, and each step in the curriculum must be ordered 

 to the level of the ability and experience of the child, thus 

 assuring the development of an intelligent person capable of 

 critical thinking. 



Secondary Curriculum 



Does high school science have a unique function distinct from 

 that of the corresponding college courses .^^ Within the Saint 

 Xavier Plan the high school accepts the responsibility of pre- 

 senting and developing the liberal arts. Therefore, the sci- 

 ence courses are committed to this general directive as it 

 applies to the study of the world of nature. Three distinct 

 methods are used in the teachmg of science at the secondary 

 level: (i) the observational technique providing exercises in 

 classification, generalization and differentiation, (ii) the ex- 

 perimental technique employing logical principles of both dia- 

 lectical and demonstrative argumentation, and (iii) the mathe- 



