PAPERS OX HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE 405 



Certainly the results obtained are more accurate when 

 I personally carry on the experiments, but such results 

 mean less to the members of the class. I much prefer 

 the use of simple home-made apparatus to the elaborate 

 and often expensive apparatus used in the more ad- 

 vanced science cour - 



Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon class excur- 

 sions or field trips. In addition to stimulating interest 

 and providing a change in the regular routine of class 

 work, such trips take the student to the right place to 

 study science, that is, where nature has provided it. The 

 class room with its artificiality does not often furnish 

 the most suitable environment for teaching. True, most 

 of the time must be spent there, but every opportunity 

 should be taken to conduct the class work elsewhere. 



In the class room itself much may be done to vitalize 

 this subject. A regular routine question and answer 

 method three times a week in the recitation room has 

 been responsible for the waning of interest and enthus- 

 iasm on the part of the pupils. A little variety in the 

 program not only appeals to the rather restless adoles- 

 cent boy or girl but also gives to the careful teacher the 

 key to the interest of the members of the class. The 

 work may be varied in a number of ways. Special re- 

 ports are always well liked. These subjects may be defi- 

 nitely assigned or left for personal selection by mem- 

 bers of the class. Lectures or talks by the instructor 

 or other people of the community may be used occasional- 

 ly to advantage. 



I believe that I have found nothing that appeals more 

 to the child taking the science course than a definite per- 

 sonal problem for him to work out. The possibilities of 

 such problems are unlimited in almost any community. 

 Some may be wholly individual problems and others gen- 

 eral or community problems : e. g. — 



1. How much oxygen should be supplied to the class 

 room per hour ? 



2. How much fertilizer will be needed to take the 

 place of 1,000 bushels of corn sold off a farm 1 



3. TVhat would be a good economical diet for a boy 

 or girl of your age ? 



