ON THE TEACHING OK SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 



28: 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. J. H. Gladstone 

 (Secretary), Mr. William Siiaen, Mr. Stephen Bourne, Miss 

 Lydia Becker, Sir John Lubbock, Bart., Dr. H. W. Chosskey, 

 Sir Henry E. Roscoe, Mr. James Heywood, and Professor N. 

 Story Maskelyne, appointed for the purpose of continuing the 

 inquiries relating to the teaching of Science in Elementary 

 Schools. 



SlNCE the re-appointment of your Committee at Southport no legislation 

 affecting the teaching of science in elementary schools has taken place, 

 and it is yet too early to estimate the whole influence of the Education 

 Code of 1882 in that respect. Some indications, however, have been 

 gathered from the Blue-book and from some of the large Boards. 



The first effect of the change of Code upon the teaching of science is 

 shown in the return of the Education Department for this year ; but as 

 the tabulated statements only extend to August 31, 1883, they contain 

 merely the results of those examinations that were made of schools which 

 came under the new Code between April 1 and August 1, 1882, or about 

 28 per cent, of the whole. The following conclusions may be drawn : 

 1st. Elementary science was taken up by scarcely any schools examined 

 during these months, the number of departments that took it up as the 

 second class subject being only 15, while 3,988 took up geography, 1,644 

 (girls) needlework, and 114 history. It must be remembered that 

 geography is more scientific than it was before, but needlework is rapidly 

 displacing it in girls' schools. 2nd. The exclusion of the Fourth Standard 

 from instruction in specific subjects has reduced the number of scholars 

 so taught by 56"6 per cent. ; but the remaining 43'4 per cent. — that is to 

 say, the children in Standards V., VI., and VII. — do receive a larger pro- 

 portion of scientific teaching. The actual number of children examined 

 during these four months in the mathematical and scientific specific: 

 subjects is given in Column I. of the following table ; Column II. gives 

 the estimated number who would have been examined under the old 

 Code ; Column III. the number of those who would have been above 

 Standard IV. 



Comparing Columns I. and II., it will be seen that the actual number- 

 examined in these subjects is not much less than would have been 



