41 



SCIENCE IN A COUNTRY SCHOOL. 

 Synopsis of Paper by E. E. Masterman. 



I have claimed for some years that science can be 

 taught in country schools with profit, and for several 

 years have aHempted to do so, so far as opportunities 

 permitted, and am pleased to say I have had reason- 

 able success in spite of the great opposition. 



We certainly have raw material enough in the 

 country to work with: — insects, fish, reptiles, mam- 

 mals, birds, plants, local archaeology and geology, etc. 

 Could colleges, academics, public and private schools 

 have such opportunities to secure material and the 

 country schools have some of the teachers, both would 

 be benefited— there would be less time to study 

 mischief — less need for jails, penitentiaries, reform 

 schools, almshouses, etc 



We, in the country, are too often hampered for 

 want of apparatus and of teachers who know these 

 subjects or care to teach them. But few schools in the 

 country or city have libraries, apparatus, or specimens 

 to an^^ great extent, which I claim are necessary in 

 teaching geography, history, mathematics, physiology, 

 etc., Teachers should own these. No teacher lives 

 that can not possess a few specimens at least. So far 

 as I am concerned I have a small library of about 700 

 books snd pamphlets, a mixed collection of shells, 

 corals, and other marine forms, minerals, birds, mam- 

 mals, geological, biological and archaeological speci- 

 mens, about 1,700 photographs and half-tone pictures, 

 mostly 9x14 inches, representing some city or natural 

 objects in nearly every countr3^ in the world. 1 also 

 have a 2iA inch aperture telescope, several small micro- 

 scopes constructed for the most part by myself, aB & L. 

 microscope that cost $75.00 in 1881, besides a variety 

 of electrical apjjaratus. So you see, I am fairly well 

 provided for material with which to work. 



I do not teach any branch of science as a separate 

 study, but in common with other studies. 



