CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. 41:8 



Now what is necessary to secure this value for science ? Obviously, 

 first, a record of the additions to knowledge obtained by their work, and 

 secondly, an accessible announcement of that record. This is the minimum 

 of publication required. The first of these requirements has to be met 

 locally. For a large proportion of the investigators concerned the local 

 society is the only obvious avenue of publication, and the possibility of 

 publication is a very definite incentive to accuracy of investigation and to 

 definiteness in statement. The second requirement cannot be met more 

 effectively than by the continued publication of the ' List of Papers.' 



Succinct records in the Reports of Local Societies and clear national 

 lists are both essential. The obstacle in the way in the. case of each is 

 the cost of printing. We are doing our best to grapple with it locally ; 

 but this is no easy task, and we hope that its difficulty will not be increased. 

 In particular we hope that a way will be found to ward off the threatened 

 charge of income-tax on our Society funds. These are meagre indeed, and 

 so serious a reduction would be practically prohibitive of due publication. 



"The Locality" in School Work. 



In addressing you from this chair two years ago Sir Daniel Hall mail.' 

 an admirable appeal for the enrichment of the education provided in our 

 schools — Elementary Schools and Grammar Schools. Now, as it has 

 happened, a great part of my work has been concerned with the extension 

 of the use of science as an element in education. Therefore I am fain to 

 hope that you will not grudge me a few minutes to put to you one small 

 suggestion in this connection. 



Sir Daniel put in the forefront of his address the value of using as a 

 definite element in the education provided in a school the lessons suggested 

 by a knowledge of its environment. He spoke especially with reference 

 to country schools. Now I believe that both teachers in towns and those 

 in the country do recognise this value and aim at using the local environ- 

 ment to good purpose. Many of them have valued highly the suggestions 

 made in that address. We know, however, that subjects of study are 

 numerous, and that among teachers, as among other men and women, 

 tastes differ. Many teachers — schoolmasters and schoolmistresses — have 

 the geographical outlook well developed, and those are no doubt interested 

 and very helpful members of local scientific societies. Obviously, 

 however, there must be many whose personal leanings are not in this 

 direction. 



Might not some individual members of our societies make a start in 

 this matter, say, by presenting to a school maps or other things that 

 would help to make instructive those of the elements in the make-up of 

 the locality that are more obvious to young people ? Even as a beginning, 

 at any rate, a copy of the 6-inches-to-a-mile quarter sheet, suitably coloured 

 for roads, streams, houses, woods, etc., and with any well-defined slopes 

 indicated by shading. I feel sure that there is many a school where the 

 home map is not now thus exhibited. I believe that such a present would 

 not be declined ; and that, with it on the schoolroom wall, the head of 

 the school would soon wish for more. I should like to sec in every 

 school and public reading-room several local maps representing aspects of 

 the environment bearing on its most marked interests. In thinking out 



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