SCIENCE TEACHING. 169 



education and, subsequently, to specialised practical instruction. As stated 

 earlier in the Report, the Department approach this subject of the administra- 

 tion of the Science and Art grant primarily from the point of view of general 

 education. They desire it to be understood that they regard a liberal intro- 

 duction to general culture as the essential foundation for all sound forms of 

 systematic specialised instruction whatsoever, and that, in their opinion, 

 Science and Art instruction cannot be a substitute for humane letters in such 

 a general course. It can, however, they believe, be made a powerful ally. 

 Apart from its utility in teaching facts, Science instruction, if it be given 

 through the laboratory (where the teacher does not dogmatise but stimulates 

 and directs inquiry), rather than through the lecture-room, and if it be accom- 

 panied by a certain amount of instruction in drawing and manual work, 

 becomes a valuable mode of intellectual training. It gives full opportunities 

 for creating interest on the part of the pupil, it draws out his powers of obser- 

 vation, puts him in the attitude of a seeker after knowledge, and gives him 

 accurate and orderly habits of. thought. Having done its part side by side 

 with Literary instruction, in a course of general education. Science and Art 

 instruction will have prepared the pupils who have received it, when the age 

 for specialisation comes, for those practical and technical courses towards 

 which it is so important in Ireland to direct much of the teaching power of the 

 country, and which it is the particular duty of this Department to organise. 

 The new Programme of Experimental Science, Drawing, Manual Instruction, 

 and Domestic Economy, which the Department prepared for the administration 

 of the Science and Art grant, was conceived with a view to serving these 

 purposes in the Secondary Day Schools. 



It was essential that in this matter there should be no over-lapping of efforts 

 nor divergence of aims on the part of the Department and the Intermediate 

 Education Board. Accordingly the Department submitted their programme to 

 the Intermediate Education Board, and the Board in its turn appointed a sub- 

 committee to confer with the officers of the Department on the subject. As the 

 result of these negotiations the Intermediate Board resolved to adopt the 

 programme of the Department, and made it a part of their curriculum. 



The following are the special Regulations of the Board as to Experimental 

 Science and Drawing, Drawing, Domestic Economy, and Botany : — 



" Drawing shall be allowed as a separate subject in all grades. 



" The courses in Experimental Science and Drawing, and in Drawing 

 "as a separate subject, shall be those adopted by the Department ot 

 " Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. 



" Experimental Science cannot be taken without Drawing. 



" The examinations in the subject of Experimental Science and Drawing, 

 " and in Drawing as a separate subject, will be held by the Department of 

 " Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. The Board will not 

 " hold any examinations in these subjects, 



" Every candidate who will be certified by the Inspector of the Depart- 

 *' ment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland to have worked 

 " satisfactorily through a practical course on the lines set out in the pro- 

 " gramme for Experimental Science and Drawing of the Department, and 

 " to have been present at the final inspection, shall be deemed to have 

 " passed the examination in that subject. 



"Candidates for Honours, Prizes, and Exhibitions who take up the 

 " subject of Experimental Science and Drawing will be examined indi- 

 " vidually by an Inspector of the Department, and the marks assigned by 



