ON RUDIMENTARY SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 149 



Code. IV. Science subjects preparatory to entering classes in connection 

 with science schools. 



I. Object lessons are attempted in a large number of infant schools, 

 and in some instances are very effective in developing the perceptive 

 powers and intelligence of the children ; but in other cases they are too 

 formal, and left too much to the junior teachers. In boys' and girls' 

 schools they frequently appear upon the time-table, especiall;^ where, as 

 in the schools of the London Board, they are looked upon as a necessary 

 part of the instruction : but they are generally given in an unsystematic, 

 and often in an unsatisfactory manner. 



II. The teaching of science as a class subject under the Code only 

 commenced last October, and thus no examinations have yet been held 

 under it. Natui'al history, physical geography, natui'al philosophy, &c., 

 are mentioned in article 19, c. 1, and it is stated that the instruction 

 should be given ' through reading lessons, illustrated, if necessary, by 

 maps, diagrams, specimens, &c. ;' but the teachers are limited to two 

 subjects, and the old subjects, grammar, history, geography and needle- 

 work, naturally retain their place in the great majority of the schools. 

 Suitable reading-books for these rudimentary science subjects have 

 scarcely yet come into existence. 



III. The specific subjects of the fourth schedule include mechanics, 

 animal physiology, physical geography, botany, and domestic economy, 

 but only two subjects may be taken (or three if the child has passed 

 Standard VI.); and the schedule also includes English literature, 

 mathematics, Latin, French, and German. Literature is a general 

 favourite ; and domestic economy is obligatory in gii'ls' schools if any 

 specific subject is taken at all ; so that the chance of any of the others 

 being introduced is very much diminished. It must also be remembered 

 that these subjects are only allowed to be taught to children in the fourth 

 standard and upwards; while only about one-fifth of the children in the 

 boys' and girls' schools are to be found at present in these standards. 

 According to the Report of the Committee of Council for Education 

 recently issued, there were 476,761 children presented for examination in 

 these standards, of whom the following numbers only were examined in 

 the science subjects : — 



2,109 

 24,72.5 



Mechanics 

 Animal physiology 

 Physical geography 

 Botany 

 Domestic economy 



34,288 

 1,853 

 50,797 



Out of 489 boys' and girls' departments under the London School 

 Board, the specific science subjects were taken up, as follows, during: the 

 year 1880:- P. . S 



Mechanics in ... 



Animal physiology in 



Physical geography in . 



Botany in ... . 



Domestic economy in 

 Mr. Hance, of the Liverpool School Board, has favoured us with an 

 account of the systematic scientific instruction which is given in the 

 Board schools of that town by a special science staff. The subject selected 

 for the boys is mechanics as defined in the new code, with a considerable 

 development in the direction of elementary physics. It has been in 



4 departments 



112 



9 » „ 

 172 



