1868.] SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. 273 



walks with the principal lecturer, to refer to the school herbarium, 

 and are stimulated by prizes for advanced knowledge and for 

 dried collections, both local and general. 



In mechanics, the lecturer is the senior natural science master. 

 The lectures include experimental investigations into the mechanical 

 powers, with numerous examples worked by the boys; into the 

 elements of mechanism, conversion of motion, the steam engine, the 

 equilibrium of roofs, bridges, strength of material, &c. They are 

 illustrated by a large collection of models, and are very effective 

 and popular lectures. 



The lectures in geology are undertaken by another master. 

 This subject is only temporarily introduced, on account of the 

 want of another experimental school. When this is built, the 

 third year's course will be some part of experimental physics, for 

 which there already exists at Rugby a fair amount of apparatus. 

 It is very desirable that boys should obtain some knowledge of 

 geology, but it is not so well fitted for school teaching as some of 

 the other subjects, on several grounds. Perhaps a larger propor- 

 tion of boys are interested in the subject than in any other j but 

 the subject pre-supposes more knowledge and experience than most 

 boys possess, and their work has a tendency to become either 

 superficial, or undigested knowledge derived from books alone. 

 The lectures include the easier part of Lyell's Principles, i. e., the 

 causes of change now in operation on the earth ; next, an account 

 of the phenomena observable in the crust of the earth, stratifica- 

 tion and its disturbances, and the construction of maps and 

 sections; and lastly, the history of the stratified rocks and of 

 life on the earth. These lectures are illustrated by a fair geo- 

 logical collection, which has been much increased of late, and by 

 a good collection of diagrams and views to illustrate geological 

 phenomena. 



For chemistry, the lecturer has a convenient lecture-room, and 

 a small but well-fitted laboratory ; and he takes his classes 

 through the non-metallic and metallic elements : the lectures are 

 fully illustrated by experiments. Boys, whose parents wish them 

 to study chemistry more completely, can go through a complete 

 course of practical analysis in the laboratory, by becoming private 

 pupils of the teacher. At present twenty-one boys are studying 

 analysis. 



This being the matter of the teaching, it remains to say a few 

 words on the manner. This is nearly the same in all classes 

 Yol. III. R ]S T o. 4. 



