METHODS OF INSTRUCTION IN MINERALOGY. 



755 



pies ; but the course was largely devoted to the drawing of figures of 

 crystals. Nearly all of this instruction was of a kind that caused 

 the pupil to do his work in a mechanical manner, following " thumb- 

 rules" given by the instructor. The student evidently was not ex- 

 pected to understand the reasons for his work — the great object 

 seemed to be to mechanically produce the most beautiful and perfect 

 drawings ; and on this part of the course itis not proposed to dwell. 



The mineralogical instruction was given in the following manner : 

 First, there had been chosen a set of the most important mineral 

 species, amounting to over two hundred in all, with which it was 

 thought best that the student should be familiar. A suflScient num- 

 ber of typical specimens of each species and its important varieties 

 had been labeled and permanently arranged, according to Dana's 

 " System of Mineralogy," in a set of drawers accessible to the stu- 

 dent. The instructor, with the specimens before him and the stu- 

 dents around him, proceeded to point out the essential characteristics 

 of these minerals, calling attention mainly to those features which 

 would distinguish each mineral from all others in the chosen set. 

 It was not proposed to burden the pupil with long descriptions of 

 each mineral, but rather to require him to know and understand that 

 which separated each one from its fellows, and caused it to stand 

 out distinct from them. To this end every means of determination 

 that seemed essential was put in requisition, except quantitative analy- 

 sis. If the crystalline form was sufficient, the student was not ex- 

 pected to go further. If the physical properties sufficed, that was all 

 that was necessary ; if not, then resort must be had to the blow- 

 pipe, and even to the wet tests. The student was taught to do that 

 which the practical mineralogist does — to determine his minerals by 

 the shortest method consistent with accuracy — the method to vary 

 according to the specimen. The pupil was taught to observe the 

 color, streak, hardness, etc., to weigh the evidence in each case, and 

 to decide according to the weight of the evidence. No guess-work 

 was permitted, but some decisive test was required which should prove 

 that the specimen belonged to the species to which it had been as- 

 signed. After a certain group had been passed over by the instructor 

 — as, for instance, the picked species of the native elements, sulphides, 

 etc., and sulpharsenites, etc., of Dana's system — each student was as- 

 signed a drawer containing specimens of these minerals, unlabeled and 

 mixed together. These specimens were selected so as to be fair repre- 

 sentatives of the species and varieties, but yet sufficiently difficult and 

 varied to bring into play the student's faculties which it was desired to 

 cultivate. As aids, the student was allowed his lecture-notes, Dana's 

 " System of Mineralogy," and the lecture-drawers of labeled minerals. 



After sufficient time had been given for the laboratory-work, each 

 student was expected to be questioned, during the lecture-hour, upon 

 such specimens as the instructor chose from his drawer. The student 



