Mat 11, 1906.] 



SCIENCE. 



731 



southern colleges possess the first two in a 

 liberal degree. In our poverty, however, 

 we have been consuming time in applying 

 the first law of nature, that of self-preser- 

 vation; and have often chosen to do those 

 things which we should have preferred to 

 alter or forego. 



With a desire to contribute towards 

 bringing about a better understanding and 

 feeling among the teachers of chemistry 

 in the south, I recently sent out a number 

 of inquiries, the answers to which should 

 form a symposium on chemistry require- 

 ments. The results have been most grati- 

 fying. Of the forty-four teachers of chem- 

 istry concerned, forty made prompt, candid 

 and interested replies. 



The list of questions by no means covers 

 the ground, but enables us to form some 

 idea of the general trend of work done in 

 the more important southern colleges. 



In order that the replies may be dis- 

 cussed systematically, I have here ar- 

 ranged the several queries seriatim, as in 

 the circular, with their corresponding re- 

 plies. 



1. Should cliemistry he taught in pre- 

 paratory schools? 



Of the forty replies, twenty are affirm- 

 ative, fifteen negative and five doubtful. 

 My object in asking the question was to 

 secure some justification of the decision 

 of the Committee on Chemistry Entrance 

 Examinations for the Association of Col- 

 leges and Preparatory Schools of the 

 Southern States. The committee is made 

 up of Dr. Cameron Piggott, Sewanee; Dr. 

 F. P. Venable, University of North Caro- 

 lina, and myself. The majority of the 

 committee were opposed to the study of 

 chemistry in preparatory schools, and asked 

 to be excused from service on that account. 

 But at the earnest solicitation of the presi- 

 dent of the association, the committee re- 

 mained intact and submitted a list of col- 



lege entrance questions. From the replies 

 to question 1 of the circular, it seems that 

 the majority of southern chemistry teach- 

 ers differ with the committee, and approve 

 of the study of chemistry in preparatory 

 schools. 



2. Does your first course in chemistry 

 precede, accompany, or follow that in 

 physics f 



The replies show that in ten colleges 

 chemistry pi'eeedes physics; that in eight 

 it accompanies physics ; and that in twenty- 

 two, it follows physics. These figures, 

 however, are probably not expressive of the 

 ideals of the respondents, but form rather 

 a simple statement of facts and conditions 

 as they find them. In many eases neither 

 subject is required for entrance and both 

 are postponed until after college is entered. 

 In nearly all cases chemistry is begun in 

 the college. In a large number of cases 

 physics is begun in preparatory schools. 



I believe, personally, that physics should 

 invariably precede chemistry. Elementary 

 physical phenomena are more easily ob- 

 served and interpreted than those of chem- 

 istry ; and, besides, while very few physical 

 problems involve chemistry, nearly all 

 chemical problems require some physics for 

 their solution. 



Another consideration to be reckoned 

 with is that a beginners' course in physics 

 may be conducted more successfully and 

 satisfactorily with limited equipment than 

 a course in chemistry. In fact, I am rather 

 strongly persuaded that the study of chem- 

 istry should never be undertaken in any 

 of our southern preparatory schools. The 

 time spent in such schools should be de- 

 voted to the humanities and the mental 

 disciplinary studies, siich as literature, 

 language, pure mathematics, and sufficient 

 nature study to give diversity and recrea- 

 tion. When students begin chemistry, 

 their minds should be able to grasp such 



