112 
(4) A real course in biology, with a standing as a science on 
a par with Physics and Chemistry, should be put in the second 
year of the high school course. In Commercial High School, I 
have been able to have such a course, with commercial emphasis, 
placed in the third year. 
(5) There should be a full sequence of sciences in the high 
school through the four years—General Science or its equivalent, 
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. 
The Chairman: The next speaker will be Dr. James E. Pea- 
body, Chairman of the Committee on Biology of the National 
Educational Association. 
Status oF BIoLoGy IN THE HicH ScHOooLs oF NEw York CIty 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: Most of us biology 
teachers have, I think, experienced during the last twelve months 
three distinct “shell shocks” as a result of the activities of 
“ Headquarters” at 59th Street. The first came in the form of a 
brief item that appeared on one of the pages of the New York 
Times last May. There we read that General Science and Com- 
munity Civics were to be introduced into the first year of the high 
school course. Only one conclusion seemed possible—namely, 
that biology was to be replaced by these new subjects. So far as 
I know, none of the high school principals were consulted as to 
the advisability of this revolutionary change. Certain it is that 
our Association was not called into conference. If general science 
is to be substituted for biology, the job must be ours, for no 
other group of teachers has the training or experience for under- 
‘taking this piece of work. When I talked with Dr. Tildsley 
about this matter, I learned that the three subjects (biology, 
general science, and community civics) were all to be made avail- 
able for first year students, and that then it was to be “a struggle 
for existence and the survival of the fittest.” a 
The second “shell shock” was experienced at a meeting of the 
high school principals. I was invited to be present and to give a 
Teport of the Washington confer ence, and to give my ideas rela- 
tive to ‘general science. During the conference Dr. Tildsley made 
the s surprising statement that for sixty per cent. of first year stu- 
dents biology did not function. When asked to state the source 
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