380 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—C. 
cause for anxiety concerning the future of geological departments in the 
Universities. By comparison, geography occupies an important place in the 
curricula of most modern schools, and is flourishing in most universities. 
It should be recognised that it is almost impossible to turn out a good 
geographer unless he has an adequate geological foundation upon which 
to build. The speaker urges the need for regarding geology as a ‘ pre- 
requisite ’ for all students reading for a degree in geography. Within his 
experience very few, who have once taken up the study of geology, drop it 
subsequently ; they prefer to offer it as their second subject. Here another 
serious difficulty arises: those responsible for training many of these 
students as teachers do not regard this as a good combination of subjects. 
Much good might be done by urging upon those responsible for making 
appointments in the teaching profession, that the first essential is that the 
candidate should be a good teacher, a master of teaching technique. Given 
this, any University student with a good degree shows by his academic 
qualification his ability to imbibe information, and should be regarded as 
reasonably qualified to teach any of the subjects, usually four in number, 
taken in the Intermediate examination. If this were admitted the charge 
that geology is not a good teaching subject would not arise, the number of 
geologically-minded teachers would steadily increase, and the problem 
might well solve itself. 
Miss M. E. ToMuinson. 
For several years the speaker has had charge of the Geography in a large 
mixed school in Birmingham and has had experience of the great interest 
which pupils have taken in Geology, both in field excursions and in talks 
organised by the school Scientific Society, and also in the Geology which is, 
of necessity, introduced into Geography lessons. Great enthusiasm has 
been aroused, and it has always been a matter of regret that lack of time 
in and out of school has limited these activities. Judging from this 
interest the speaker is convinced that the study of Geology should be 
available for school pupils, particularly those who do not proceed to a 
university, since it creates an interest in phenomena out of doors, which 
may well develop into a lasting life interest. It may not lead to important 
geological results, but will undoubtedly contribute to the happiness of the 
individual by helping him to a satisfying means of enjoying his leisure, 
now too often spent indoors with cinema and jazz. 
Co-operation in the teaching of Geology and Geography is essential in 
each school to show the pupils the relationship between the two subjects 
and to prevent overlap. 
Mr. A. N. THoMas. 
To meet possible objections to the teaching of Geology in schools on the 
grounds of impracticability, the speaker recounted his own experiences as 
a pupil in a large secondary school in South Wales, where Geology is taught 
to the Higher School Certificate standard with remarkable success. ‘The 
school is situated in one of the ‘ natural laboratories ’ referred to by Prof. 
Trueman, where curiosity in geological phenomena is naturally aroused. 
The interest of the pupils has been fostered by the formation of a Geological 
and Geographical Society which organises excursions, promotes discussions 
and solicits lectures. These activities have stimulated the interest of many 
people in the district outside the general sphere of school influence. A 
representative collection of British rocks and fossils is being formed, having 
as a nucleus the personal collection of the Geology master, supplemented 
