August 1, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



187 



rapid development of such instruction has 

 led to some excessive application. In 

 undergraduate courses the laboratory in- 

 struction should be based upon and care- 

 fully coordinated with the class room work, 

 and not pursued as an end in itself. The 

 attempt to introduce research work into 

 undergraduate courses may often involve 

 a serious waste of the students ' time. With 

 large classes and a scheme fully outlined 

 by the instructor the student may easily 

 fall into habits of careless and superficial 

 reasoning. Eeally beneficial work of this 

 character is only feasible to a very limited 

 extent, under careful oversight, the student 

 being required to fully discuss the results 

 of his investigations. Objection was made to 

 using a student's time to assist in making 

 commercial tests in place of work in the 

 regular course. The facilities for research 

 presented by large laboratory equipments 

 present an attractive field to graduate stu- 

 dents, but immature young graduates 

 should not be allowed to use too large a 

 portion of their time in this manner. 



The last subject considered was ' Ex- 

 cessive Differentiation in Engineering 

 Courses.' Written discussions were given 

 by Professors Marburg, Magruder and 

 Allen, while Professor C. M. Woodward 

 and nine others participated in the oral dis- 

 cussion. There was considerable difference 

 of opinion expressed, although in many 

 eases the speaker did not clearly state what 

 was regarded as excessive differentiation. 

 Some believed that a single general coiirse 

 should be given for all engineering stu- 

 dents, while others maintained that civil, 

 mechanical, electrical and mining engineers 

 should have courses differing materially in 

 the last two years and which also permit 

 a limited amount of electives in the senior 

 year. The former arrangement is contrary 

 to the entire course of development of engi- 

 neering education in this country, and it is 

 interesting to notice that at this very meet- 



ing of the Society three separate pleas were 

 made for still further differentiation, on 

 the ground that the industrial development 

 of the country demanded it. 



Three of the committees of the Society 

 made reports. That on technical books for 

 libraries presented the objects of its work 

 and pointed out some of the ways in which 

 the libraries may assist in the promotion of 

 engineering education. That on entrance 

 requirements related to the formulation of 

 entrance requirements. The committee ex- 

 pected to present a set of formulations to a 

 similar committee of the National Educa- 

 tional Association at its Minneapolis meet- 

 ing, July 7-11. The Committee on Statis- 

 tics reported the number of students en- 

 rolled during 1901-02 at the different in- 

 stitutions in the different courses; the 

 number of students pursuing engineering 

 courses; the number and kinds of degi'ees 

 conferred on engineering graduates to date 

 by the different institutions ; on the advisa- 

 bility of securing further statistics and the 

 attitude of administrative officers in re- 

 gard to furnishing the desired information, 

 etc. Professor C. M. WoodAvard, of Wash- 

 ington University, was elected chairman of 

 the Committee on Industrial Education, on 

 account of the death of Professor Johnson, 

 while Professor A. L. Williston was elected 

 to fill the vacancy in the membership of the 

 committee. 



The Society, after considerable discussion 

 and investigation, by a special committee 

 appointed last year, decided at this meet- 

 ing to appoint a 'Committee on Require- 

 ments for Graduation.' The President 

 was authorized to take some time in select- 

 ing the members and the committee will be 

 announced in a circular probably in Sep- 

 tember. 



The following are the newly elected offi- 

 cers of the Society : 



President, Calvin M. Woodward, Dean of the 

 College of Engineering, Washington University. 



