PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. IX 



In this work the teacher and pupils are required to study things and 

 not books, to perform experiments in order to learn how substances act 

 under varying conditions and to draw their own conclusions. Is this 

 done ? It may be fairly well done in five per cent, of the schools, with 

 very varying degrees of success in 60 per cent., and scarcely attempted 

 in the remainder. 



The majority of teachers would do better work if they could, but 

 they hare never seen it done ; they cannot learn how from books ; and 

 they have not the pecuniary or moral support that comes from a general 

 intellectual appreciation of the material, intellectual and moral benefits 

 resulting from scientific training. 



In the curriculum for our Academies and High Schools it is taken 

 for granted that Botany and Physics are studied for about 90 minutes a 

 week throughout the year. Chemistry and Mineralogy about the same 

 time in the second year, and Physiology and more advanced Physics 

 each about two hours a week for the third year. There are very few 

 schools, however, in which so much time is devoted to Science. The 

 Provincial Examinations show that experimental work is almost wholly 

 neglected. The mental confusion and crudity of conception apparent in 

 a large proportion of the answers received would tend to show that 

 much of the science teaching is simply a mechanical memorizing of the 

 text-book. 



In the fourth year of the High School, science is optional. In the 

 year 1897, 23 candidates received Grade "A Classical" and only three 

 took Grade " A Scientific." Candidates who are trained in schools 

 where the facilities for the teaching of science are poor and where the 

 teachers are themselves not interested in science, are not likely to select 

 the science subjects for their Grade " A " examination. Of the 37 

 Academic teachers reported as holding Grade " A " there are but two of 

 them who hold the " A Scientific " and this, notwithstanding the fact that 

 the enthusiasm of the Superintendent of Education for scientific subjects 

 might be supposed to influence the teachers and students in the ranks 

 below him. 



The large proportion of " Classical A's " may also be partly accounted 

 for by the fact that a considerable number of candidates are college 

 students, and classics still dominates the Nova Scotia colleges. For 

 matriculation leading to the degree of B. A. the student is supposed to 

 have studied Latin for three years, but nothing is required in Natural 

 Science. 



