SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 29 1 



ruary 12 to March 13, 1890; 19 lessons; attendance, 550 pupils, 20 

 teachers. 



Sixth Series. — "Crystallization." April 28 to May 21, 1890; 15 

 lessons; attendance, 480 pupils, 16 teachers. 



Aggregate, 108 lessons; attendance, 3.581 pupils, 121 teachers; 

 average attendance, 33-16 pupils, 1.12 teachers. 



Extra lessons given were — to Davenj^ort teachers (evening), i; Or- 

 phans' Home classes, 2; Kemper Hall class, i; public (evenings), 2; 

 Lend-a-Hand class, i; Rock Island school classes, 2; Moline high 

 school class, i. Total, 10. 



Superintendent Young, in his annual report, Juh', 1889, makes fa- 

 vorable mention of these lessons as a part of the ])ublic school instruc- 

 tion of the year, three series having then been given. 



The work has received the approval of the patrons of the schools 

 without exception so far as I have learned, and has been popular with 

 pupils and teachers, and I have had many and frequent evidences of 

 awakened interest and observation of natural phenomena among the 

 children, and some very gratifying and kind testimonials of their 

 appreciation. 



This plan of cooperation with the ])ublic schools, which is original 

 with ourselves, met with the most cordial approbation of scientific 

 persons and educators elsewhere, and has been favorably noticed in 

 various scientific publications. 



Though it was an experiment previously untried, and has been car- 

 ried out but to a limited extent as yet, it is already sufficient to fully 

 demonstrate its feasibility, usefulness, and popularity, and to show 

 unmistakably that it could be advantageously extended to one or two 

 lower'grades, and that all might attend somewhat oftener — each class 

 coming once in each month if no more. 



Having thus introduced this method and given it as I believe a fair 

 and reasonably successful trial, my confidence in its u-,efulness and 

 importance, both to the schools receiving instruction and to the insti- 

 tution affording it, is greater than ever; and I would here express the 

 hope that it may be continued under still more favorable conditions, 

 and become a regular system and part of the public school course of 

 instruction, and may exert a strong influence in favor of an extension 

 of iiatural science instruction in the school rooms. -^ j^ Pratt. 



In view of his contemplated early removal from the city Prof. Pratt 

 then presented an address on "The Academy's Past and Future," 

 which, after extended remarks on the needs of the in-^titution by W. H. 

 Holmes and others, was referred to the Trustees for consideration and 

 action. 



President McCowen was chosen to represent the Academy at the 

 coming meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science. 



