Mr. Hobhouse's Address 109 



subjects (such as poultry and bee-keeping), the use 

 and making of apparatus, and drawing from natural 

 objects. There are also a large number of courses 

 that include chemistry and physics. 



In almost every case the training is given at an 

 agricultural college or central institution of an agri- 

 cultural or scientific type maintained or aided by a 

 County Council. But there is no reason why such 

 instruction should not be given wherever suitable 

 laboratories and teachers are available. In most 

 cases the courses include practical work either in the 

 laboratory or in the field and garden, or in both. 



It will thus be seen that a large number indeed 

 the majority of the County Councils of England are 

 doing substantial work in training teachers in "nature- 

 knowledge ". But a great deal more will have to be 

 done before every rural school has proper teaching of 

 this kind. It is not to be expected, even in the 

 future, that every village schoolmistress will be able 

 to give such instruction, and arrangements will have 

 to be made by the new Local Education Authorities 

 to provide peripatetic teachers for groups of small 

 schools. 



School gardens and school museums will also have 

 to be organized for both elementary and higher 

 schools. Very valuable work has already been done 

 by Surrey and other counties in starting gardens in 

 connection with evening continuation-schools. The 

 supply of seeds and tools at reasonable rates, and the 

 offer of prizes, have made these gardens very attrac- 

 tive, especially in the small towns and larger villages; 

 and this system adds a practical side to the instruction 

 in horticulture given in the winter evenings. 



