EDUCATIONAL FAILURE. 5 



as possible, and by the time we are lost in the "theoretical 

 introduction " we are glad enough to get through and forget 

 the whole unpleasant experience. 



To deliberately plan that .education should be chiefly of 

 that other sort ; that explanation should follow upon experi- 

 ence, and that we teachers should supply that experience ; 

 that an atmosphere should be created in which such know- 

 ledge should find life, exercise and value, would seem to be 

 sane and reasonable, if possible, however opposite to the 

 prevailing methods. 



Clearly we cannot look to the family for anything better 

 than negative help m this ; in general it supplies no interest 

 in nor knowledge of scientific, scholarly or even mechanical 

 affairs ; seriousness of interest or purpose seems to be lack- 

 ing, and at least a generation would be required to build it 

 up, even if the willing spirit were present. Nor are all of the 

 certificated members of our profession prepared to do such work , 

 their whole training being toward a different end. Even, the 

 text books of to-day show the same effort to separate life and 

 education by omitting more and more the references to the 

 practical applications of scientific law that gave such interest 

 to books like Ganot's " Physics," of blessed memory. 



An immediate change of method on the large scale is no 

 doubt impossible ; to do the right thing on the small scale is 

 not only feasible, but as I have alread}^ said, it has been 

 carried out in several instances under my own observation. 

 If not under perfect auspices in all respects, the essential con- 

 ditions of the proV)leni have been met, and an essential 

 success has followed. 



To take " manual training," as a subject, out of the list 

 of studies completeh', — to let it grow with its equally sickly 

 sister, "nature study," in healthier fashion until they con- 

 stituted the foundation of the whole work of the school, 

 would be radical enough, but I believe neither foolish nor 

 impossible in the right hands. To turn the boys, little and 

 big, into the shop and laboratory and field every afternoon 



