15] Introduction. 207 



The phenomena of the kitchen, of the home, of the street, 

 of the shop, of the sky, etc., are paralleled, to a certain 

 extent, and the pupils are thus induced to notice these 

 things outside of school and to seek their causes. By 

 means of experiments, it is easy to make a graduated 

 course in science, which could not be done so well in 

 Nature. Nature does many things on such a large scale, 

 or in such a complex manner as to baffle the pupil's powers 

 of observation. A few simple experiments may often put 

 the pupil in the way of comprehending the phenomena. 



Experiments are, for the most part, performed with 

 familiar objects, which cost very little money and very 

 little time and skill for manipulation. Pupils are taught 

 to construct their own apparatus so far as there seems to 

 be educational value in that sort of work, and, in most 

 cases, the products of their work unquestionably fulfil the 

 purpose for which they were constructed much better than 

 the expensive and cumbersome apparatus which usually 

 has no better mission than to occupy a show-case. 



The mistake is frequently made of supposing that home- 

 made apparatus is intended to illustrate or parallel the 

 apparatus of the market to merely take the place of a 

 cheap substitute. Nothing could be more erroneous. Its 

 purpose is to illustrate scientific principles in the most 

 direct manner, and this seldom requires any imitation of 

 that apparatus which, has so long excited awe and admir- 

 ation but has signally failed to elucidate the principles for 

 the average pupil. The home-made apparatus interposes 

 less between the mind and the idea which we wish the 

 mind to grasp. By its simplicity it brings the possibility 

 of teaching by experiments in the lower grades. 



The student takes a more lively interest in it and under- 

 stands it better because he makes it himself (to enliven 

 interest and open the understanding are the main purposes 

 of experimenting). Although it may be made as simple 

 as desired, it may also be made to call into exercise skill 



