ON THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 165 



The return of scholars individually examined in the scientific specific 

 subjects shows again an actual falling ofi" in the total, and either an actual 

 or relative falling ofi" in every subject except mechanics A and chemistry, 

 which have both considerably increased. The figures are given in the fol- 

 lowing table : — 



The rapid and serious decrease of attention paid to these science sub- 

 jects is shown by the percentage of children who have taken them, as 

 compared with the number of scholars that might have taken these 

 subjects, viz. : — 



and it must be remembered that children who have taken two of these 

 subjects count twice over. 



The Special Committee of the London School Board ' on the subjects 

 and modes of instruction in the Board's schools,' which was referred to 

 on the last occasion, has presented its report. The report itself, prepared 

 by Mr. W. Bousfield, which is a lengthy and important document, is 

 strongly in favour of much greater attention being paid to science. The 



