474 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



every opportunity should be taken to counteract this tendency by descrip- 

 tive lessons in which everyday phenomena are explained and the utility 

 of discovery and invention is illustrated. 



Domestic science and hygiene are frequently introduced into girls' 

 schools w^ith the object of effecting a link between science and the 

 experience of everyday life. It must be pointed out, however, that 

 such courses are incoherent and of little value unless science or 

 domesticity is the definite objective. If the scientific aim predominates, 

 the course can be made to give a good training in elementary experi- 

 mental science and should afford a useful background to later practical 

 study of domestic arts. If domesticity is dominant, the work cannot 

 be accepted as an effective substitute for a proper science course. 



Summary. 



The observational work by which the study of science should begin 

 opens the eyes of the pupils and may be used to train them in the correct 

 expression of thought and of accurate description. The practical 

 measurements in the class-room have for their object the fixing of ideas 

 met with in the mathematical teaching. Every pupil should undergo a 

 course of training in experimental scientific inquiry as a part of his 

 general education up to a certain stage, after which the laboratory work 

 may become specialised and be used to supply facts which may be a 

 basis for more advanced work or to prepare pupils for scientific or 

 industrial careers. 



At suitable stages, when pupils are capable of- taking intelligent 

 interest in the knowledge presented, there should be courses of descrip- 

 tive lessons and reading broad enough to appeal to all minds and to 

 give a general view of natural facts and principles not limited to the 

 range of any laboratory course or detailed lecture instruction, and 

 differing from them by being extensive instead of intensive. 



Finally, the aims of the teaching of science may 'be stated to be: 

 (1) To train the powers of accurate observation of natural facts and 

 phenomena and of clear description of what is observed; (2) To impart 

 a knowledge of the method of experimental inquiry which distinguishes 

 modern science from the philosophy of earlier times, and by which 

 advance is secured; (3) To provide a broad basis of fact as to man's 

 environment and his relation to it; (4) To give an acquaintance with 

 scientific words and ideas now common in progressive life and thought. 



