PREFACE 



THE question of what science shall be taught in the 

 first year of the regular high school, or in the eighth or 

 ninth years of the Junior High School, is becoming one 

 of steadily increasing importance. The logical course for 

 this period of the child's school life seems to be a general 

 course in those elements of science which will form a 

 foundation for the sciences which usually come later in the 

 high school courses of study, and which will give the best 

 training to those who may withdraw from school at the end 

 of the ninth year. For a number of years physical geog- 

 raphy was the science commonly taught in the ninth 

 year. Teachers of this subject found that in order to do 

 their best work, it was necessary to give a considerable 

 portion of their time to teaching the elements of related 

 sciences such as physics, chemistry, and botany. The 

 same thing was true of the teachers of the biological 

 sciences. This fact furnishes an excellent argument for the 

 substitution of a course in general science for the sciences 

 which were formerly taught in the first year of our high 

 schools. 



First year science is intended for immature minds. It 

 must be presented and illustrated in such a way that the 

 pupil will not be confused with terms which are too techni- 

 cal nor with treatments of topics which are too advanced 

 for him. The course should be so organized that the 

 pupil, while dealing with some known facts, will be con- 



