ox THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 287 



The Teaching of Science in Elementary Schools. — Report of the Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Dr. J. H. Gladstone (Chairman), Professor 

 H. E. Armstrong (Secretary), Professor W. R. Dunstan, Mr. 

 George Gladstone, Sir John Lubbock, Sir Philip Magnus, Sir 

 H. E. RoscoE, and Professor S. P. Thompson. 



YouE Committee have much pleasure in being able to report that during 

 the past year the teaching of science subjects in Elementary Schools has 

 made considerable progress. They think it unnecessary to repeat the 

 table showing the dearth of any such instruction, other than that of 

 Geography before the year 1890, but give the figures for the principal 

 class subjects for the succeeding years, showing that while ' English ' (i.e. 

 grammar, not literature) is gradually losing favour, the scientific subjects 

 are all receiving more attention. It will be seen that there is a very 

 rapid advance in regard to Elementary Science, although 'Object Lessons,' 

 as such, appear in the return this year for the first time, and have at once 

 taken a good place in the schools. The figures up to 1895-96, which is 

 the latest return issued by the Education Department, are as follows : — 



The number of departments in 'schools for older scholars ' for the 

 year 1895-96 was 22,943, which, deducting 21 that did not take any class 

 subject, leaves 22,922. But History was taken in 4,143, and Needlework 

 (for girls) in 7,219 departments, and sundry minor subjects in 849, making, 

 ■with the other four subjects of the table, 47,025 in all. This shows an 

 average of more than two class subjects to each department, while in the 

 previous year it was rather less than two. While recognising with satis- 

 faction the increase in the returns for Elementary Science and Object 

 Lessons, it must not be assumed that they are given throughout the 

 schools, the latter subject being more particularly intended for the three 

 lower standards. The next return should show a great increase in these 

 Object Lessons, as they became obligatory on September 1, 1896, in these 

 standards. 



