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38 against it. Several of those who declared against it said they 
did not remember a thing about it, not one solitary thing, and if 
that is so regarding biology, it seems to me it would be a minus 
quantity if we applied it to general science. I want to read two 
answers that I got from two of my students. One young lady 
thought biology a useful and essential study for all schools because 
“One can never get away from food and flowers.” I hope her 
good fortune will continue. And the other one, with entire frank- 
ness, said this: “ Biology—I am afriad I did not derive much 
benefit from that subject, because the only thing I can remember 
is drawing a fish, and I cannot see what good that did me.” 
The record of percentages of failures in seven subjects in 
Erasmus Hall High School from four consecutive terms (1917- 
1919) was as follows: French, 48.3 per cent.; Mathematics, 40.6 
per cent.; Spanish, 38.5 per cent.; German, 32.5 per cent. ; Latin, 
31.4 per cent.; Science, 24.4 per cent.; English, 13 per cent. From 
these figures it would seem that ‘ne percentage of failures in 
Science (including Biology), is less than in mathematics and 
languages (5 subjects), and only second to English. 
Now, that is not the only measure I took. I sent a notice 
around the school saying: “If you were a ‘class teacher’ of a 
biology class within the last year, please tell me what you think 
of the value of biology. This is not to be answered by biology 
teachers.” As a result of this, I got answers from teachers of 
the following subjects: English, Mathematics, History, French, 
Stenography, and Spanish, everyone a class teacher, and many of 
a class which, of course, took biology. The interesting thing was 
that there was not a single one of those teachers who was not 
enthusiastic about the study of biology, and I want, if you will 
allow me, to read you a few of their statements: | 
“Tts facts and purposes are fundamental to all social and edu- 
cational development, and it should be a required subject.” 
“Valuable for its emphasis on the value of human life, and, 
therefore a direct help towards civic betterment and human im- 
provement.” : 
“Teaches valuable habits of personal care and is a fine intro- 
duction to the study of science. 
“A vital subject for my students. Those who do not like it 
