PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, XXXVI 
Mr. Dawson graduated from Edinburgh University at the age of 26. 
For four years he studied geology, travelling part of the time with Sir 
Charles Lyell, the greatest geologist of the world. At the age of 
thirty he was superintendent of schools for Nova Scotia, and did much 
to lay the foundation of our present educational system. In 1855 he 
was appointed Prineipal of McGill University, a position which he held 
until 1893, until he and the University had become famous the world 
over, 
He was capable of a prodigious amount of hard work. In his 
favorite science he kept in the foremost rank, but he found it dithcult 
to avail himself of the light thrown upon natural phenomena by the 
theory of evolution of which he was a most uncompromising oppo- 
nent. 
His extraordinary industry is shown by the large number of books 
and scientific articles which he wrote. Some of them were of very 
great value and are still used as text books. 
is eminent services to science were acknowledged by his appoint- 
ment as first President of the Royal Society of Canada in 1882, his 
election in the same year as President of the American Geological 
Association, and of the British Association in 1886. He received 
honorary degrees fram various universities, and was knighted in 1884. 
At the close of my address last year I referred to the fact that 
science was much neglected or very badly taught in our schools. As a 
remedy I suggested (a) that the colleges prescribe science as a subject 
for matriculation, (b) that for the academic license more scholarship, 
especially in practical science, and a long course of the best professional 
training be made imperative, (c) that higher qualifications in science be 
required for B licenses, and (d) that a large part of the provincial 
examination in science for grade A consist of laboratory work. 
The progress of science teaching in other countries during the last 
year has all been in confirmation of the soundness of these principles. 
No doubt the time is near when we also must adopt them. When that 
day comes, and not until then, science will make satisfactory progress 
in all our educational institutions. 
But it is perhaps more especially the province of this Institute to 
awaken the public to an interest in general science and to stimulate and 
assist individuals in particular fields of research, 
