372 GENERAL SCIENCE 



good account in general science teaching. Pupils should learn from 

 the first to use the Index of any reference book for finding quickly 

 what is desired as information. Certain of the chapters of this text 

 as listed in the Table of Contents have been starred(*). In the author's 

 judgment they contain matter likely to be difficult for beginners. 

 Their use in a general science course will in nowise render unnecessary 

 their more extended discussion later in the particular science to which 

 they pertain, especially the lessons in Physics and Chemistry. An 

 introduction of pupils to these difficulties at this early stage in their 

 science studies should so materially aid them later in any discussion 

 of these same and of other related topics as to justify the inclusion of 

 these lessons. It will be for any teacher to judge whether under teaching 

 conditions as they exist it is profitable to discuss them. 



* REFERENCE BOOKS 



1. Text-books in high school and college sciences provide a large 

 amount of usable material for "study hours" in General Science. 

 These should include texts in Agriculture, Astronomy, Biology, Geology, 

 Home Economics, Hygiene, Meteorology, and Zoology as well as in 

 Botany, Chemistry, Physical Geography, Physics, Physiology, to- 

 gether with some of the different texts in General Science. A simple, 

 non-technical presentation, other things being equal, is desirable 1 . 

 Accuracy of information is essential within the limits of discussions 

 necessarily of an elementary character. Text and other reference 

 books which pupils enjoy when reading, and which they "can under- 

 stand," are at a premium so long as these characteristics are not gained 

 at the expense of scientific and pedagogical worth. 



2. Many publications of the United States Government are available 

 free or at a nominal price. It is usually best to order these through the 

 Congressman of one's home district, especially if several copies of any 

 one publication are desired. Before ordering, however, application 

 should be made to the Department concerned for a List of Publications 

 suited for use by teachers in public schools. Lists of Farmers Bulletins , 



1 In providing a library of reference books for use in General Science much 

 disappointment and waste will be avoided by ordering so far as possible 

 only books with whose contents in a general way at least the teacher has be- 

 come well acquainted. Printed lists of books secured from different sources 

 are no exception to this rule however helpful these lists may be in narrowing 

 one's choices for examination. 



