1868.] SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. 



k i77 



the boys who do best in the examination during a course of three 

 terms receive more valuable special rewards. 



As offering to boys a voluntary and informal method of obtain- 

 ing much scientific information, this plan (which was originated 

 at Harrow, and has not, so far as we are aware, been ever adopted 

 at any other school) offers many advantages. It is sufficiently 

 elastic to admit of many modifications ; it is sufficiently com- 

 prehensive to attract a great diversity of tastes and inclinations ; 

 it cannot be found oppressive, because it rests with each boy to 

 decide whether he has the requisite leisure or not ; it can be 

 adopted with ease at any school where even a small body of the 

 masters are interested in one or other special branch of science ■ 

 and it may tend to excite in some minds a more spontaneous 

 enthusiasm than could be created by a compulsory plan alone. 



We would not, however, for a moment recommend the adoption 

 of any such plan as a substitute for more regular scientific training. 

 Its chief value is purely supplemental, and henceforth it will be 

 regarded at Harrow as entirely subordinate to the formal classes 

 for the teaching of science which will be immediately established. 

 In addition to this, more than a year ago some of the boys formed 

 themselves into a voluntary association for the pursuit of science. 

 This Scientific Society, which numbers upwards of thirty members, 

 meets every ten days at the house and under the presidency of one 

 or other of the masters. Objects of scientific interest are exhibited 

 by the members, and papers are read generally on some subjects 

 connected with natural history. Under the auspices of this 

 Society the nucleus of a future museum has already been formed, 

 and among other advantages the Society has had the honour of 

 numbering among its visitors more than one eminent representative 

 of literature and science. We cannot too highly recommend the 

 encouragement of such associations for intellectual self-culture 

 among the boys of our public -schools. — From a Newspaper 

 Report. 



