TEACHING GEOLOGY IN SCHOOLS 291 



with regard to the causes of the irregular distributions of heat in the outer 

 layers of the earth's crust. Thus, it has long been known that the tempera- 

 tures at the same depths in different localities are not the same. For example, 

 at Fairmont, West Va., a temperature of 170 F. was found at a depth of 

 7,500 ft. ; while at Longmont, Colo., a temperature of 212° F. exists at a 

 depth of only 6,600 ft. In general the rates at which the temperatures 

 increase with the depth vary from the extremely rapid rate of i° F. in 

 20 ft. (the value found in some of the oil-fields in Wyoming) to 1° F. in 

 200 ft. (gold mines at Johannesburg, South Africa). No serious attempts 

 had been made to explain these variations in the temperature of the rocks 

 at the same depths until the U.S. Geological Survey found in some oil- 

 fields in Wyoming and California that the temperatures of the rocks at 

 given depths were higher than the temperatures found at the same depths 

 in the rocks immediately surrounding the fields. 



The peculiar distribution of heat existing in these oil domes is attributed 

 to the radioactivity, or possibly to the chemical reactions within the oil 

 itself. Other investigators sought the explanation in deep-seated intrusive 

 masses, conduction of heat in the rocks, and the migration of waters in 

 deeply buried sands. It is impossible at present to render a final decision 

 as to the merits of all these hypotheses. 



Most intensive investigations are conducted to-day in the United States, 

 as a result of co-operation of various organisations, and the author believes 

 that a precise geothermal survey will ultimately provide the facts on which 

 certain fundamental principles of geology may be established. 



TEACHING OF GEOLOGY IN SCHOOLS. 



Report of the Committee appointed to consider and report on questions 

 affecting the teaching of geology in schools (Prof. W. W. Watts, F.R.S., 

 Chairman; Prof. A. E. Trueman, Secretary; Prof. P. G. H. Boswell, 

 O.B.E., F.R.S., Mr. C. P. Chatwin, Prof. A. H. Cox, Miss E. Dix, 

 Prof. G. Hickling, F.R.S., Prof. W. J. Pugh, Mr. J. A. Steers, 

 Dr. A. K. Wells). 



Although geology as a school science subject has never been taught so 

 widely as some other sciences, for instance botany or chemistry, its position 

 in the educational system has recently become far worse than in the past. 

 Whether geology be looked upon as an essential part of a liberal education 

 or as part of the training of those who will be concerned with education or 

 research, the present outlook can only be regarded with grave disquiet. 



Systematic inquiries made by the Committee reveal the following facts : 



There are scarcely twenty secondary schools in England and Wales 

 where geology is taught, even to small numbers of pupils, as a full science 

 subject. 



At a few elementary schools a certain amount is taught, but chiefly where 

 inspired by personal interest or where special facilities and encouragement 

 are afforded by a museum in the locality. 



In only a very small proportion of training colleges is the subject included 

 in the curriculum for the Teacher's Certificate, and thus very few teachers 

 receive any training in it. 



When contrasted with the great expansion of science teaching generally, 

 this neglect becomes more disturbing to the geologist than it would have 



