426 



REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 

 Table XV (continued). 



From the above it may be calculated that for the thirty-three States for which 

 data are supplied the average percentage of schools offering Biology is 63%, the 

 corresponding figure for Botany being 17% and for Zoology 7%. 



General Conclusion. It will be seen that in all the countries of Western Europe 

 whose position is reviewed above, instruction in Biology includes both Botany and 

 Zoology, and that in all cases the study covers Human Physiology and Hygiene. 

 Biology holds a position at least as important as Physics or Chemistry in Boys' Schools 

 as well as in Girls' Schools. Every boy and girl receives substantial biological 

 instruction. 



The same holds good for Japan. 



In the United States of America, where the system of free choice of ' units ' 

 obtains, the recently introduced Biology has rapidly taken the place of separate 

 Botany and Zoology units in the very great majority of schools. 



The position in England and Wales is in sharp contrast. Biology and Zoology 

 are hardly known as school subjects. Botanj' does duty for all, and even Botany, 

 though very general in Girls' Schools, is practically confined to these. Very few 

 boys have any biological instruction in the Secondary School beyond the Nature 

 Study which may very probably be taken during the first year of the Secondary 

 School career. William S. Learned, in his publication already referred to, cites the 

 following curriculum for the first five years of a Secondary School as being fairly 

 typical of all English Boys' Secondary Schools. 



