ON THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 307 



Report of the Committee, consisting- of IMr. James Heywood, 

 Mr, William Shaen, Mr. Stephen Bourne, Mr. Kobekt Wil- 

 kinson, the Eev. W. Delany, Professor N. Stoky Maskelyne, 

 Dr. SiLVANUS P. Thompson, Miss Lydia E. Beckbe, Sir John 

 Lubbock, Professor A. W. Williamson, ]Mrs. Augusta -Webster, 

 Dr. H. W. Crosskey, Professor RoscOE, Professor Gr. Carey 

 Foster, and Dr. J. H. Gladstone, {Secretary), appointed to 

 luatch and report on the %vorldngs of the propjosed revised Neiv 

 Code, and of other legislation affecting the teaching of Science 

 in Elementary Schools. 



When this Committee was reappointed at York, it was with a special 

 view to the important changes which it was expected the Government 

 would naake in the Education Code. In the postscript to their previous 

 report, great satisfaction was expressed at the general scope of the 

 ' proposals' that had just been submitted to Parliament, but it was urged 

 that the knowledge of nature should be more effectually encouraged as a 

 class subject. 



On assembling in the autumn, your Committee added to their number 

 the Rev. H. W. Crosskey of Birmingham, and Professor Roscoe of 

 Manchester, and, subsequently. Professor G. Carey Foster of London. 



At the first meeting it was determined to enter into communication 

 with Mr. Mundella, the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on 

 Education, but the serious illness of that gentleman caused a delay. The 

 Secretary, however, eventually saw him at his own house, and found him 

 desirous of receiving the views of the Committee by deputation. As this 

 was a step which your Committee felt themselves not justified in taking 

 unless through the governing body of the Association itself, they drew 

 up a series of resolutions, and submitted them to the Council, with the 

 request that that body should appoint a deputation to urge their views. 



These resolutions were passed by the Council, with the addition of 

 that numbered YII. They were as follows : — 



I. That Clauses 9 (3), 20, 26, and the Standard work in Geography 

 (pp. 6 and 7) be ;i[iproved. 



II. That the :irr:ingements involved in Clauses 18, 19, 21, 23, and 27 

 be subject to revision on the following grounds : — 



a. That Clauses 19 and 21, read together, will practically exclude 

 Elementary Science teaching in the Lower Division, as Geography will be 

 almost always cluism by teachers as the second subject. 



h. That placing Standard IV. in the Lower instead of the Upper 

 Division will restrict the choice of Class-subjects to be taught in that 

 Standard, and altogether exclude the teaching of any of the Specific 

 subjects. 



c. That, taking all these Clauses as they stand, there will practically 

 be a cessation in the teaching of Elementary Science from the time of 

 leaving the Infant School (Clause 9 (3) ), till entering the Upper 

 Division (Clauses 23 and 27). 



It is therefore recommended that Clause 21 be left out ; and that 

 Clause 19 be so modified as to permit of the ordinary Class Grant being 



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