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the New York City High Schools contributes essential informa- 
tion and educational discipline, and that it is fulfilling this func- 
nop as satisfactorily as other high school subjects? 
o you believe it would be desirable or otherwise to have 
Sarees biology eliminated or greatly curtailed as now taught in 
the high schools? 
“T would very greatly appreciate your perfectly frank reply at 
as early a date as convenient.” 
Fifteen letters were sent and ten replies were received. The 
following quotations are from the replies: 
“T believe that elementary biology as now taught in the Evander 
Childs High School contributes essential information and educa- 
tional discipline, and is fulfilling its function as satisfactorily as 
other high school subjects. I do not believe it is desirable to 
have general biology eliminated or greatly curtailed. This does 
not mean, however, that I think biology should be put upon the 
list of required subjects, if mathematics and language are to be 
elective. That is to say, there is no reason why biology should 
be especially required if it is the general custom to have the high 
school subjects elective. The present difficulty arises from the 
new State Law which requires civics in the first two years. I 
believe strongly in the value of mathematics and of a foreign lan- 
guage, as well as of biology. You will see, then, that the real dif- 
ficulty is not with men who are opposed to biology in itself, but 
with those who do not know which of the subjects it is wisest to 
curtail, provided additional work must be brought in.”—Gulbert 
S. Blakely, Evander Childs H. S. 
“T have no complaint to make of the teaching of biology in this 
school. I have seen many changes introduced in subject matter 
which I believe are for the good of the pupils. I know also from 
testimonials given by the pupils themselves that they regard the 
work as interesting and valuable.’.—William L. Felter, The 
Gols Ef. S. 
“My own position is that General Science should be a subject 
of the first year of high school. It should, however, include much 
of direct practical value from human physiology and hygiene, 
and the laws of nutrition and growth in both plant and animal 
kingdoms, now taught in the course of Biology. Biology as a spe- 
