PROCEEDINGS. XXX 111 



It seems to me therefore, that two very beneficial changes might be made by 

 those who have the direction of these matters, — first, the provision of better 

 educational facilities in scientific subjects than we now possess, and secondly, the 

 increase of the impoitance of scientific subjects relatively to the other subjects of 

 the higher teachers' examinations. The complex character of our higher educa- 

 tional system renders the provision of improved facilities for scientific study, on 

 any large scale, difficult, except by the slow process of educating the public. But 

 while public opinion is being brought up to the point of expenditure, teachers 

 might be led to use such facilities as we now possess more than they now do, by 

 the second change referred to. For if scientific subjects were given a relatively 

 greater importance in the requirements for license, and thorough knowledge which 

 could not be acquired by the mere reading of text-books were demanded, this 

 effect would be at once produced. I have elsewhere suggested that for this pur- 

 pose two grades of teachers' license of the highest rank should be instituted, which 

 might be roughly described as literary and scientific respectively, and which 

 would differ from one another in the relative extent of the literary and scientific 

 knowledge required. Were this course followed, the teacher of scientific tastes, 

 could put his main strength into the study of science without running the risk 

 of failure in applying for the highest grade of license ; and a body of teachers 

 would thus be provided, able to carry out the wishes of School Boards whose 

 members might have come to think that the thorough teaching of elementary 

 science in our schools is a matter of great importance. 



The effect of such a change on the work of our Institute is at once apparent. 

 Fornot only would a body of teachers who had given their chief attention to scien- 

 tific study, probably provide us with a number of active members, but the general 

 diffusion of a knowledge of elementary science in the rising generation, would 

 before long provide for us here and there men and women, who, whatever their 

 main work might be, would for relaxation turn to the cultivation and advance- 

 ment of some favorite branch of scientific study. 



The need of change in our educational arrangements being thus apparent, I feel 

 sure that I may congratulate the Institute on the fact of the. appointment of its 

 Corresponding Secretary to the important position of Superintendent of Educa- 

 tion for Nova Scotia. Mr. MacKay is singularly well fitted for this position. 

 For he is a man who distinguished himself in his University course, both in the 

 literary and in the scientific department, having graduated both in Arts and in 

 Science. His own tastes have led him in the direction of scientific research, and 

 the special weakness of our schools in the department of science has led him to 

 give much time and attention to means of securing improvement in this respect. 

 We therefore have good ground for liope, that under his regime, sure progress in 

 the diffusion of scientific knowledge will be made. On the other hand, however, 

 the more conservative educationists, who have little confidence in science as a 

 means of culture, have alse the satisfaction of knowing that he is an all-round 

 man, with a literary as well as a scientific training, and unlikely, therefore, to 

 exalt the latter at the expense of the former. 



During the past year the Council has continued the extension, begun in the 

 previous year, in the circulation of our publications. The last issue of the Pro- 

 ceedings and Transactions was sent to 594 Libraries and Scientific Institutions, 



