466 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



encouraging work in this direction — Secretary, Miss Isabel Fry, 8f Oxford 

 and Cambridge Mansions, N.W. 



The Committee of the Corresponding Societies inform us that they 

 are anxious to know how they can best assist Nature study in schools. 

 We suggest for their consideration that there are many members of these 

 societies who are also membei's of the local education authorities, who 

 could, therefore, do much to bring the best ideals of teaching to the 

 knowledge of their colleagues, and whose personal influence would lubri- 

 cate any organisation or arrangement that might be necessary to carry 

 out these ideals — for instarce, in getting flowers from the parks supplied 

 to the schools. The present is an opportune moment for these societies 

 to bring the advantages of membership to the knowledge of elementary 

 school teachers. They need help in new studies, and the personal good will 

 and companionship of local naturalists will often be useful. 



9. Books. 



We agree in thinking that books should only play a very .'subordinate 

 pert in teaching intended to bring elementary school children into first- 

 hand contact with facts. 



For boys over fourteen, attending a secondary school, ready to da 

 some evening preparation and coming from homes where the cost of books 

 is not too overwhelming, tlie answer would be different ; but the caution 

 that their first introduction should be to the living object is then even 

 more important. We do not suppose that at the ages of twelve to four- 

 teen children can usefully be set to learn lessons from any book which 

 has not previously been explained to them. 



A natural history reading-book should never be accepted as Nature 

 study in school. Many a teacher, feeling his own ignorance, may be glad 

 to use such a book to rouse an interest in what he feels himself incompe- 

 tent to teach. There are many such books Avhich miglit suitably be put 

 into school libraries or given as prizes. 



Interim JiejJort of Sid) -Committee on Domestic Work, consisting of Miss 

 Cooper, Miss Clarke, Miss Maitland, Professor Armstrong, Dr. 

 KiMMiNs, Dr. Snape, Professor Smithells, and Mr. G. Fletcher 

 {Secretary), 



In considering the teaching of domestic economy in primary schools it 

 seems important to bear especially in mind — 



(1) The age and capacities of the scholars j 



(2) Tlie qualification of teachers ; and 



(3) The existing accommodation for teaching the subject efficiently. 



The necessity for extended and improved teaching of this subject is 

 widely recognised. It is clear that the home is the natural place in which 

 to learn much that pertains to household management, but girls of the 

 •working classes at the period when such training could best be acquired 

 are usually engaged in work in the shop or the factory. The opportunity 

 is therefore wanting, and too often when the time comes for marriage 

 the care of a home is undertaken with but the slightest acquaintance 

 with household duties. A whole train of ills will thus be started in an 

 ill-managed home. Although evening classes in domestic economy touch 



