88 



given for it from the home work of all the other studies of 

 the first year. It is now usually given in a perfunctory man- 

 ner from a text-book and the method I suggest would be more 

 dignified and beneficial, especially if physicians were invited 

 in to give many of the talks. By this or some similar device 

 the continuity of the science courses could be preserved. 



Botany and zoology occupy at present an advantageous po- 

 sition that probably cannot be bettered. I would, however, give 

 two years to each. The second year in botany could be given 

 to systematic and economic botany, preparing the way for agri- 

 culture. A good second year's work in zoology would be formed 

 by giving a half year to study of insects and economic zoology 

 and a half year to vertebrates with special reference to physio- 

 logy, including human physiology. In physics there is plenty 

 of important work in electricity and other topics. But these 

 are merely suggestions of my own. The great need is for care- 

 ful study of the situation and experimentation with a vieW to 

 improving not only the organization of the courses but also the 

 methods employed in presenting the various sciences. 



No one can justly say that this proposed increase of the 

 science would burden the course of study for we have 

 only to look to the foreign language courses to get a 

 refutation of such a charge. The cost would be but 

 little greater, nothing at all except perhaps in physics. The 

 added time for better developed courses and the cutting out 

 of hurry and scrimping will add dignity, interest and attractive- 

 ness to the courses in science and greatly increase their value. 

 It has been found in the past that increased facilities for edu- 

 cation always meet a prompt response in increased patronage. 

 So with increased facilities and saner methods would come 

 greater appreciation of science and still greater appreciation of 

 the work the high schools are doing for the people. 



S. A. Forbes. — "The series of able and really brilliant papers 

 contributed to our symposium this morning are a justification 

 of the symposium idea, and also of tlu' judgement oif the 

 council in their clioice of a subject. It seems thai the council 



