18 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



of Science at all, but were diverted to the waste basket 

 in the administrative offices of the school. This explana- 

 tion would account for the "lost battalion", nearly 500 

 schools in number, from which no replies whatever were 

 received. 



The committee chairman recommends that the work 

 go on, and that the Academy take special pains to inter- 

 est itself in, and if possible to cooperate with, those High 

 School Science Clubs already in existence, as well as to 

 encourage the formation of clubs in those schools in 

 which the census reveals an indication of interest in such 

 clubs. 



In conclusion the chairman desires to read a portion 

 of a letter received from a teacher vitally interested in 

 Science Clubs: 



"Science clubs started in the school five years ago as 

 an experiment in the General Science classes. Chem- 

 istry Clubs were organized a year later; then followed 

 the Botany and Zoology Clubs. All members of the class 

 are members of the club, as the club meets during the 

 recitation period. In this way not only the bright and 

 interested student, but also the student who needs the 

 incentive of club activity is reached. We find this a 

 strong point in favor of such an organization. 



There are 16 General Science Clubs with meetings 

 every two weeks. The president of the club, elected for 

 a semester, presides over the meeting. The program 

 consists of simple experiments or talks on subjects rela- 

 ting to science in everyday life. 



In Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry the same plan is 

 followed, with variations to suit the particular need. 

 The president and secretary are directly responsible for 

 the program. Each student takes part. Talks on cur- 

 rent topics, reports of outside lectures or conferences, 

 biographical sketches, and talks on topics bearing on the 

 subject and of general interest make up the programs. 

 The two Botany Clubs superintended tree planting on 

 the school grounds lately. In one of the Zoology Clubs 

 a lively discussion of the proposed Game Reform Law 

 took place. Each of these clubs meets twice a month. 



