3o6 



NATURE 



[June S, 191 6 



better chances of coming on to the universities and 

 colleges of university rank. For this purpose we need 

 in these schools, above all, teachers with better pay 

 and better prospects. It is impossible to get the best 

 results as long as many of the teachers in tnese schools 

 are badly paid, and have not as yet, like so many 

 other teachers, even any prospects of a pension. The 

 whole scale of salaries tor teachers ot all subjects, 

 especially in the upper departments of most of these 

 schools, must be lifted. 



The effect of existing examinations upon secondary 

 schools of all kinds, including State-aided schools, 

 which is sornetimes very injurious, is a matter of 

 importance. We are glad that the Board of Educa- 

 tion have had this question under consideration, and 

 hope that remedies will be found for some of the more 

 obvious evils that arise, at an early date. Among the 

 rest, the Civil Service Examinations need careful con- 

 sideration. 



In order to bring to the universities the best boys, 

 so manv of whom now leave the State-aided secondary 

 schools at sixteen, tempted by offers of salaries into 

 business and industry, an adequate number of bur- 

 saries for those of from sixteen to eighteen years of 

 age ought to be provided tenable at these schools. 

 Ihtise should be followed by the offer of a large 

 number of Government scholarships, adequate m 

 value, and tenable at the universities and at colleges 

 of university rank. For the above-mentioned pur- 

 poses, probably half a million a year could be wisely 

 spent with results to the nation of the most valuable 

 kind. Since ours is the only college in England at 

 which the few Government scholarships in science that 

 exist are held, it may be desirable to state that in 

 our experience the excellent capacity and diligence of 

 the great majority of these scholars fully warrant the 

 opinion that a large increase in their number lor 

 universities generally would be of great national 

 value, and this would be especially the case if the 

 range of selection were widened. The universities and 

 colleges have sent a very large proportion of their 

 students to the front, and are now greatly depleted. 

 It is of the utmost importance that the Government 

 should exercise immediate foresight in order that the 

 demand for trained scientific men that must inevitably 

 arise on the return of peace conditions may be suffi- 

 cientlj' met. By a scheme of bursaries and scholar- 

 ships it will be possible now to retain at some of the 

 State-aided schools the best boys of the younger gene- 

 ration, who, after further training at the colleges, will 

 be available for the furtherance of the skilled indus- 

 tries of the country — industries which are coming 

 vitally to depend on scientific knowledge and research 

 for their existence among us. 



As to the universities and colleges themselves, no 

 doubt part of the money for industrial research, which 

 is administered by j-our Privy Council Committee, 

 will be of real service to them. But much has to be 

 done to put the teaching of science and technology 

 on a proper footing at these Institutions. The salaries 

 of the junior staff are often much too low. Money, 

 which is greatly needed for buildings, for equipment, 

 and for research, is not forthcoming. New depart- 

 ments should be founded as the demands from in- 

 dustry increase, and a considerable number of research 

 fellowships are required. It Is estimated that the 

 State grants to universities in Germany are about a 

 million and a half a year, whilst in England they 

 amount to less than a quarter of a million a year. 

 Another quarter of a million a year could be advan- 

 tageously expended by Parliament in this direction. 



The Government, therefore, can, in our opinion, 

 do great service to national education In ensuring a 

 more adequate position for science — 



NO. 2432, VOL. 97] 



(i) By removing obstacles. 



(2) By giving information and guidance \\hich may 

 be of service to parents and to the public at large. 



(3) By recommending to Parliament considerable 

 grants of public money in the directions we have indi- 

 cated. 



We have ventured to lay these considerations before 

 you because we know that, as our chairman, you are 

 interested in these matters. Your position, too, as 

 chairman of the Privy Council Committee on Indus- 

 trial Research brings you in contact with many of 

 these questions, the high national import of which we 

 feel sure you appreciate. We earnestly hope that the 

 Government may give early attention to them, for 

 there is a general agreement that never were they of 

 more vital importance to the nation than now. 



H. B. Baker, F.R.S. . . (Chemistry). 



V. H. Blackman, F.R.S. . (Plant Physiology and 



Pathology). 

 W. A. Bone, F.R.S. . (Chemical Technology — 



Fuel and Refractory 



Materials). 

 H. L. Callendar, F.R.S. . (Physics). 

 H. C. H. Carpenter . . . (Metallurgy). 

 C. Gilbert CuUis. . . . (Economic Mineralogy). 

 W. E. Dalby, F.R.S. . . (Mechanical and Motive 



Power Engineering). 

 S. Dixon ...... (Civil Engineering). 



J. Bretland Farmer, F.R.S. (Botanv). 



A. R. Forsyth, F.R.S. . (Mathematics). 



A. Fowler, F.R.S. . . . (Astrophysics). 



W. Frecheville .... (Mining). 



Percy Groom (Technology of Woods 



and Fibres). 

 E. W. MacBride, F.R.S. (Zoology). 

 T. Mather, F.R.S. . . . (Electrical Engineering). 



J. C. Philip (Phvsical Chemistry). 



H. G. Plimmer, F.R.S. . (Comparative Pathology). 



R. J. Strutt, F.R.S. . . (Physics). 



Jocelvn Thorpe, F.R.S. . (Organic Chemistry). 



W. W. Watts. F.R.S. . (Geology). 



A. N. Whitehead. F.R.S. (Applied Mathematics). 



(2) Public School Reform. 



In view of the grave crisis through which w^e are 

 passing, we venture to ask you to join us in a demand 

 that boys at the public schools should be properly 

 trained in subjects essential for our national life. We 

 consider a mastery of science and of modern languages 

 is necessary to fit our sons to take their'proper places 

 in modern life, whether in science, commerce, or the 

 Forces of the Crown. 



A grave warning has lately been issued, signed by 

 the most eminent scientific professors, pointing ovit 

 the immediate necessity for a proper education in 

 science ; for both in the Services and in every branch 

 of commerce is involved the use of scientific data and 

 a sound knowledge of scientific processes, and It con- 

 stitutes a grave national danger that this subject is so 

 inadequately taught in our public schools. Few boys 

 leave the public schools able to converse freely In 

 modern languages ; the presence of so many inter- 

 preters In the British Army is absolute evidence on 

 this point. It Is clearly seen how Immensely impor- 

 tant are these two subjects for our sons, whatever 

 may be their future professions. The wonderful 

 efficiency of the Germans, both in science and 

 languages, points to the fact that their schools and 

 universities answer these two vital requirements better 

 than do ours. We consider that a sound knowledge 

 of our own language and literature, modern geo- 

 graphy, English and European history should be 



