2g6 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Second Vice-President — W. H. Holmes. 



Recording Secretary — Dr. Jennie McCowen. 



Correspondijig Secretary — Prof. W. H. Barris. 



Curator — Prof. W. H. Barris. 



Treasurer — Frank Nadler. 



Librarian — Miss A. J. S. McCrum. 



Trustees for Three Years — G. P. McClelland, W. C. Putnam, 

 W. H. Barris, and A. M. Judy. 



Trustees to Fill Vacancies (caused by the death of William Riepe, 

 the removal from the city of W. H. Pratt, and the resignation of W. 

 H. Holmes) — Mrs. C. E. Putnam, C. E. Harrison, and W. L. 

 Allen. 



president's annual address. 



Dr. Jennie McCowen, January 7, 1891. 



The retiring President, Dr. McCowen, after summing up in 

 brief the progress of the year, making special and appreciative men- 

 tion of the work of Prof. Pratt connecting the Academy with the 

 public schools, continued as follows: 



From the very inception of this Academy one of the principal 

 objects has been the advancement of public interest in knowledge of 

 the natural sciences, and especially by the most intimate practical 

 co-operation with the public educational system. To this end it has 

 been the constant effort on the part of the Academy to encourage vis- 

 its of classes and teachers to the rooms, but no way was found during 

 past years to realize this cherished object to anything like the extent 

 hoped for. But within the past year (1890) a promising beginning 

 has been made. 



At a meeting of the Board of Education in February a definite plan 

 proposed by Prof. Pratt, then Curator of the Academy, for receiving 

 classes of pupils from the public schools directly into the Academy 

 rooms for systematic scientific instruction was considered and approved. 

 A programme was arranged by the principals, and all parties entered 

 into it with hearty good -will. At the afternoon recess a teacher, 

 with her class, repaired to the Academy building, where an ample 

 collection of specimens to illustrate the lesson given by Prof. Pratt 

 was arranged for the close and personal inspection of the pupils ; the 

 same lesson being repeated until all the classes had received it in turn. 

 The high school and the eighth and ninth grades of the grammar 

 schools have taken one lesson each during each term. 



This plan, which originated with the Davenport Academy of Nat- 

 ural Sciences, has been sufficiently tested to demonstrate the entire 

 feasibility, usefulness, and popularity of the method. It has, more- 



