132 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE,—1917. 
“The following table indicates the subjects most commonly taught 
at different stages :— 
Average Ages 
Subjects 
: 8-10 11 2- 13 1 #1 #16: 17 
Nature Study = I (E_= 
Elementary Physics 
Elementary Chemistry 
Systematic Chemistry . 
Mechanics . , 
Heat and Light 
Biology . . 
Hygiene . 
Domestic Science . 
li 
Botany . . 
Note.— means taught in some schools. 
means taught in the majority of schools, 
means taught in nearly all schools, 
The time spent on science in the majority of schools is from 
1.to 14 hours per week below twelve years of age, and from 2 to 24 
between the ages of twelve and sixteen or seventeen, above which 
specialisation begins. In a considerable number of cases (see Appen- 
dix III.) the laboratory accommodation is insufficient to allow of the 
whole even of this time being spent in experimental work, and a part 
is therefore frequently given to some subject as, for example, hygiene 
or descriptive botany, which can be taught in the classroom, 
III. Time ReEQuirED FOR THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE. 
There is a tendency at the present time, especially in some of the 
more conservative schools, to introduce science teaching for two hours 
per week, and to regard this as sufficient to meet the claims of science 
to an adequate place in the curriculum. In the opinion of the Com- 
mittee it is impossible for any real training in scientific method, or for 
knowledge of any practical value, to be secured with so short an allow- 
ance of time. Also pupils are apt to consider that the importance of 
a subject may be judged by the time allotted to it in school, or to 
