NATURE 
173 


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1923. 


CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Science Teaching . ‘ F mn 173 
Human Character... By E. H. ‘sS. 174 
The Arabs of the dag: By Prof. Ck Seligman, 
F.R.S. ; 176 
The Utilisation of Coal. “By Prof. H. Louis 178 
Astrology of Comets. - ‘ P - 179 
Our Bookshelf . : 3 P s " - 180 
Letters to the Editor :— 
On the New Element Hafnium.—Dr. D. Coster and 
Prof. G. Hevesy . 182 
The Latent Period in Lubrication —Ida “Doubleday 
and W. B. Hardy, Sec. R.S. 182 
The Rule of Priority in Nomenclature. _Dr. F. A. 
Bather, F.R.S. 182 
The Formation of Coloured Bows and Glories. — 
B.B. Ray . 183 
The Definition of Limiting Equality. —Prof. G. H. 
Bryan, F.R.S. 183 
Museums.—Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell - 184 
Spiranthes Autumnalis.—Prof. F.O. Bower, F. R. S. 185 
The Scattering of X-Rays in Liquids.—Prof. C. V. 
Raman . ; : . - . . - 185 
** Artificial” Vertical Beam. ee Will C. Baker 185 
Unusual Crystals.—G. H. 186 
Science and Armaments. te James Weir French 186 
The Opacity of an Ionised Gas.—Dr. John Q. 
Stewart F 186 
The High Temperature of the Upper Atmosphere as 
an ch goa of Zones of Audibility.—F. J. W. 
= Whipp! ‘ 187 
Sinden er Nitrogen by Plants. Edward Whitle 187 
Riactin, Diabetes, and Rewards for Discoveries. s 
Sir W. M. Bayliss, F.R.S. : 188 
The Identity of Geber. By E. ce Holmy. ard. 191 
The Alleged Discovery of os be of Epidemic 
Influenza. By W.B. . 193 
Obituary :— 
Prof. eee oe By A. C, D.C... 194 
Mr. P. C. A. Stewart. By H. ¥ M. 194 
Current Topics and Events . 195 
Our Astronomical Column F 197 
Research Items r 198 
Can Gravitation really be absorbed into "the Frame 
| ao and Time? By Sir snap ae 
200 
The Nature of Gels. By Dr. S. C. Bradford . + 200 
Physical Properties of Clay and Clay-Mud . + 202 
Silvanus Thompson Memorial Lecture . «203 
Pasteur. ByS.P.B. . y « 204 
University and Educational Intelligence - ° F ° 204 
Societies and Academies . ‘ 3 ; ° 205 
Official Publications Speapae ats : ee hire + 208 
poiery of Societies . = 2 . + 208 

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Editorial communications to the Editor. 
NO. 2780, VOL, 111] 
Science Teaching. 
has long been felt that a great defect in our 
secondary school education has been that boys 
and girls may pass on to the universities or out into the 
world of business without having received any instruc- 
tion in science or any skilled guidance in the pursuit of 
their scientific hobbies. It is owing probably to a 
defect of this kind in the education of many of our 
public men that we have so often to complain of the 
indifference that is shown to pressing necessities for the 
better encouragement and endowment of scientific 
research. It is true that many of our large public 
schools are now provided with first-rate teachers of 
science and with well-equipped scientific laboratories, 
so that the boy or girl who takes the modern side may 
receive a really good foundation of scientific knowledge. 
It is also true, however, that, owing to the tyranny of 
our scholarship system the classical boys in the upper 
forms of secondary schools have not time to devote to 
instruction in any branch of science, and for the same 
reason the education of boys in elementary science is 
too frequently neglected, both in the preparatory schools 
and in the lower forms of secondary schools. 
What is wanted in education is the cultivation of the 
idea that no modern citizen can be considered really 
well educated who has not gained some knowledge of 
the natural phenomena of the world in which he lives, 
and of the body which is the temple of his soul. If 
we could persuade all parents of the truth of this con- 
ception, they would not be satisfied with the education 
of their children unless they have had, at least in the 
preparatory school or in the lower forms of the secondary 
school, some instruction in science. 
There has been some difficulty, however, in coming 
to an agreement as to the best and most practical form 
in which science should be taught in the lower forms ; 
and it is, therefore, with great pleasure that we welcome 
the valuable report, just published, of a sub-committee 
of the Science Masters’ Association.1 The fundamental 
principle that underlies the method of education 
suggested in the report is that “the work should be 
done by the boys themselves with as little help as 
possible from the master in charge” ; and accordingly, 
a syllabus is drawn up of subjects which, experience has 
shown, can be studied effectively and with simple 
appliances in school life. Included in the report there 
are also an interesting and valuable syllabus of subjects 
arranged as a calendar of work, and three specimens of 
lessons that may be given in natural history. 
All this is excellent and worthy of most careful study 
1 Elementary Science, Nature Study, and Practical Work in Preparatory 
Schools and the Lower Forms of Secondary Schools. Report of the Sub- 
Committee appointed by the Science Masters’ Association, 1922. (Oxford: 
University Press. Price 1s.) 
