ScIENTIFIC AND LITERARY TEACHING IN HIGH SCHOOL 253 
selected list of laboratory exercises to illustrate them, while 
others wish to make more of a point of analytical work with lab- 
oratory work to suit. Still others, and these are by far the 
greater number. are obliged by force of circumstances to give 
their classes but a smattering of general principles with, perhaps, 
a poorly selected list of laboratory exercises, or none. 
Whatever the solution to all these difficulites may be in 
time, there is one reform that must come about before this sci- 
ence can become firmly established. Nowhere is there enough 
attention paid to the industrial side of Chemistry. Our best text 
books have little to say about the subject and as a result the 
pupils finish the course without getting any adequate idea of 
what an important factor Chemistry is in modern life. 
In my opinion the high school Chemistry, just as every 
other science, should not be too technical but should be devel- 
oped along lines that come in contact with every day human 
experience. This would give those who will not pursue the 
study further a lasting knowledge of it and at the same time 
furnish a good foundation for more advanced study. But as I 
said before, some agreement must be arrived at by the colleges 
and then the high schools can have a basis upon which to work 
out a uniform system. Then and then only will Chemistry take 
the place it deserves in our high school course. 
But ladies and gentlemen, I would not have you think for a 
moment that I wish to detract one iota from the importance of 
literary work. Great lessons can be drawn from the intelligent 
study of History that will be invaluable and indeed essential to 
the education of those into whose hands must fall the reins of 
government in the years that are to come. And of Language it 
is unnecessary for me to speak, especially of the mother tongue. 
Too much importance can not be attached to it, especially when 
we see so large a percentage of our high school graduates that can 
not write a correct business letter. One is almost inclined to 
think at times that we should again go back to the old spelling 
book. : 
Unquestionably, at least, one foreign language should be 
studied, and that thoroughly, and in my humble opinion, that 
language should be a modern one. But let this be left to the 
choice of the pupil or his parents. 
I hope I have made myself plain; the scientists do not want 
everything. They only ask for a proper recognition of what they 
consider equal in importance to the literary work. They ask 
and have a right to demand that the science work be placed on a 
par with that of any other department, and that the pupils who 
select this course may not be made to feel that they are doing 
inferior work. 
