128 PROCKEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



plaining the causes which have operated to piodvice the present 

 contour of the earth's surface. He gave a brief resume of tlie work 

 done at the colleges of the province where geology is taught ; at the 

 High Schools, where physical science is greatly at a discoimt, as 

 evidenced by extracts from the High School Inspectors' reports, and 

 at the Normal Schools. Chemistry, zoology and botany being taught 

 in the latter, he contended that the teachers in training would not 

 find it difficult to acquire so much knowledge of geology as would 

 enable them to impart it, in an elementary manner, to the pupils of 

 the Public Schools. The curriculum of the Public Schools was 

 briefly considered. Statistics were given from the report of the 

 Minister of Education, showing the relative attention given to the 

 various subjects. Geography being taught to more than two hundred 

 and eighty thousand pupils, out of the total number of four hundred 

 and sixty-six thousand on the register, the author inferred that the 

 systematic inculcation, in connection with that subject of elementary 

 stinctural geology, would be of incalculable value to the Province in 

 the proximate future, and of great immediate service. He combated 

 the view that the subject is too abtruse for Public Schools, outlined 

 the scope of such teaching and its method, and made a suggestion as 

 to the course to be adopted, in initiating the introduction of geology 

 into the Public Schools. 



Mr. ]^oyle thought that the map would be very useful in 

 teaching geology. As an old teacher, however, he did not 

 think that it would be advisable to place the subject of geology 

 in the curriculum for Public Schools. The subjects were 

 already too numerous, and he did not see how geology could 

 be introduced with advantage. In accordance with the repre- 

 sentations of a deputation of the Natural History Section, the 

 study of natural history had been put on the Normal School 

 programme, but practically no attention was given to it. 

 The very slight acquaintance that it was possible to impart, 

 under the circumstances, was of little value. In order to 

 have it taught with efficiency, the teacher should be saturated 

 with the subject. 



Mr. J. L. Hughes, Public School Inspector for Toronto, 

 agreed with Mr. Boyle as to the value of Mr. Ives's map for 



