ELEVENTH MEETING. 129 



purposes of illustration. The subjects on the Pubhc School 

 curriculum were already too numerous. It was impossible to 

 teach them all thoroughly. Nearly all the subjects specially 

 intended to develope the observing faculties of pupils had 

 been suffered to drop out. It was true that geology was of 

 great utility, but a study should not be put on the programme 

 merely on account of its utility. He thought that the branches 

 taught in the school should vary according to the wants of 

 the locality. Steps should be taken to allow the local 

 authorities an optional power in regard to certain subjects, so 

 that those may be taught that were best suited to the circum- 

 stances of the place. 



Dr. Hamilton thought that the subject of geology should 

 be made a prolongation of physical geography. As to the 

 introduction of the snbject into the classes of Mechanics' 

 Institutes, it would be of very little benefit, owing to the 

 inefficient management of classes by those institutions. 



Mr. Macallum had come to the conclusion from his own 

 experience that geology was a subject that should not be 

 taught in the Public Schools. He was not in favour of local 

 options, but thought that a strict rule as to the subjects to be 

 taught should be made uniform through the province. It 

 may be taught in the High Schools, and made optional with 

 them. Chemistry, however, should have the precedence. He 

 agreed with Mr. Boyle that to teach efficiently a teacher 

 should be saturated with the subject. 



The President communicated a paper from Prof. Campbell, 

 of Montreal, " Etruria Capta," Part II., "The Eugubine 

 Tables." 



The President stated that he presented many points to 

 Prof. Campbell that he had not been able to solve to his (Mr, 

 VanderSmissen's) satisfaction. Should these not be solved, 

 he considered that Prof. Campbell's theory must fall to the 

 ground. 



Mr. Boyle presented a very remarkable Indian pipe of 

 curious workmanship, found on a farm in the western part of 

 9 



