30 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. I 



In particular he advocated the teaching of "the 

 first elements of physical science " ; " by which I do 

 not mean teaching astronomy and the use of the 

 globes, and the rest of the abominable trash but a 

 little instruction of the child in what is the nature of 

 common things about him ; what their properties are, 

 and in what relation this actual body of man stands 

 to the universe outside of it." "There is no form of 

 knowledge or instruction in which children take 

 greater interest." 



Drawing and music, too, he considered, should be 

 taught in every elementary school, not to produce 

 painters or musicians, but as civilising arts. History, 

 except the most elementary notions, he put out of 

 court, as too advanced for children 



Finally, he proposed a list of members to serve on 

 the Education Committee in a couple of sentences 

 with a humorous twist in them which disarmed 

 criticism. " On a former occasion I was accused of 

 having a proclivity in favour of the clergy, and 

 recollecting this, I have only given them in this 

 instance a fair proportion of the representation. If, 

 however, I have omitted any gentleman who thinks 

 he ought to be on the committee, I can only assure 

 him that above all others I should have been glad to 

 put him on." 



That day week the committee was elected, about 

 a third of the members of the Board being chosen to 

 serve on it. At the same meeting, Dr. Gladstone 

 continues 



