SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— L. '401 



As specialist teachers are not always available, the work should be under 

 supervision and help given by refresher courses for teachers and by grouping 

 the schools round some central institution of higher education. 



Miss A. A. ScoRRER. — Science for senior girls. 



Value of and necessity for science teaching in schools now recognised. 



Extensive choice of matter — must be related to experience, hence variety 

 in type of course. 



Historical development of science teaching among girls — early popularity 

 of nature study — introduction of practical subjects, cookery and laundry, 

 opened up new matter for science lessons — health teaching a further 

 extension, leading to hygiene and human physiology. 



Effect of Prime Minister's Committee's Report on Natural Science in 

 Education (191 8). 



Modern conception of general science course. 



Recommendations of Hadow Reports. 



Examination of typical syllabuses in use. 



Equipment — specialist teacher — specially provided room — apparatus — 

 books. 



Capt. F. W. Merritt.^ — A course for older scholars in rural schools. 



Content of the Course. — Simple study of the physics and chemistry of air, 

 water, and soil. Simple experimental lessons on mechanics and physics. 

 Elementary study of the conditions of the healthy growth of plants and 

 animals. Simple hygiene. Personal hygiene. Care in handling foodstuffs, 

 milk, etc. Differentiation of the course for girls ; relation of the science 

 teaching to the work done in the domestic subjects room. 



The danger of attempting to cover too much ground. 



Experiments in practical science which have been successfully undertaken 

 by children of average intelligence, and their application to rural pursuits 

 and industries. 



General observational work (not done by formal lessons). — Daily weather 

 and meteorological records. Continuous study of a particular tree, plant, 

 or hedgerow. Interest in local geology, wild flowers and grasses. 



Equipment. — Account of an actual rural science practical room. The 

 minimum of apparatus required. Home-made apparatus. Provision 

 which may be made for rural science teaching in schools where (o) no 

 practical room is available ; (6) no gas available. 



Mr. F. BooTHROYD. — The science of things around us. 



Practical Nature of Course. — Utilisation of interest in environment ; 

 direct appeal of working models ; difficulties to be met and overcome in 

 getting models to work; development of interest in instructive hobbies ; 

 education for leisure hours. 



Aims. — Building up a body of useful scientific knowledge ; appreciation 

 of law and order in Nature ; development of keen perception and observa- 

 tion, logical reasoning (inductive and deductive) ; encouragement of 

 initiative and inventive genius. 



Method. — Pupils work from sheets or cards of instruction ; individual 

 work by pupils essential ; applications many and directly related to environ- 

 ment of pupils. 



