DAMS] DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION* 207 



the level of seventh and eighth-grade boys. Much of what is in 

 print has not been written from that standpoint and is difficult for 

 pupils to read. 



I am inclined to think that the time has come when we should 

 put the formal study of agriculture from a good text-book into 

 the two years' higher course (first and second year high school) 

 for our country schools. The body of facts which properly be- 

 long under this head are being better organized all the time, and 

 I think could well be made the basis for study. Out of the 75 

 pupils taking the central examination in the higher work in our 

 country and village schools this year, 37 were boys, and if this 

 same proportion is found in other counties, the presence of this- 

 branch in the course for the higher work would be fully justified. 

 The thoughtful farmers are appreciating the importance of this 

 work as never before, and I think will welcome agricultural work 

 that has real significance in our schools. It is now up to us to- 

 get this sort of work for the children. 



THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION OF THE N. E. A.: THE 

 BOSTON MEETING 



By B. M. DAVIS (Prc3id2nt for th2 Department for 1910 ) 



The forty-eighth annual convention of the National Educa- 

 tion Association was held at Boston, July 2-8, 19 10. There were 

 over 17,000 registrations, but the actual attendance must have 

 been several thousand greater. Many distinguished speakers, 

 including President Taft, made addresses. The Department of 

 Science Education gave three programs. 



The subject of the first meeting was ''Science Instruction in 

 the Small High Schools''. The speakers were H. L. Terry, State 

 High School Inspector of Wisconsin, and H. G. Russell, Super- 

 intendent of Schools of Beardstown, Illinois. The general dis- 

 cussion was led by G. R. Twiss, High School Visitor of Ohio 

 State University. The first speaker, after stating that high 

 school pupils of country schools are fully as able to do good work 

 as those of city schools, and that country high schools should 

 have their work accepted on its merits rather than uj^on the com- 

 pletion of a prescribed course, suggested improvement along the 

 following lines : 



"First — Through the appreciation of a distinct aim to bring the 

 student into a knowledge and appreciation of the natural phenomena 

 about him, and to give him the power to recognize and deal with these 



