November 26, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



753 



conditions from those found in the preceding 

 two subjects; in fact, the remaining subjects — 

 astronomy, geology and the biological sciences, 

 though not so large in numbers of schools 

 represented, and class attendance — do not show 

 indifference to the teaching, value and purpose 

 of the course — that is, in the majority of cases. 

 In the teaching of the history of physics this 

 condition is marked; and for such a subject, 

 known to be one of the fundamental sciences, 

 this attitude is not to be expected; the study 

 should approach chemistry in its higher edu- 

 cational value. 



As it is, 19 courses are offered in this group 

 of 113 schools; of these, sis courses have been 

 dropped, or are to be discontinued, and in addi- 

 tion, in two cases they are represented in the 

 catalogue, but not given. The average class 

 attendance is small (7; the range being 1-12), 

 being half of the first two subjects mentioned. 



The next study of special interest is astron- 

 omy. Here we have a subject involving other 

 features not included in the first three funda- 

 mental sciences. In considering the small 

 total nimiber of schools offering astronomy 

 (15) we must bear in mind that this is a highly 

 technical and specialized subject, requiring 

 expensive instrumental equipment, and that it 

 is therefore not to be found in many curricula. 

 If at all, it is usually represented only by a 

 single course — a general descriptive course, 

 and going beyond the observatory visits only 

 in the larger schools. 



This number (15) is reduced to 13, for in 

 two schools it was discovered that instead of a 

 history of astronomy, the history of nautical 

 astronomy and the history of geodesy were 

 given. The average class was found to be 9 

 students, with a range from 2 to 43. The rela- 

 tion this large class attendance of 43 (five 

 years' average) has to the prominence of the 

 department (University of California astron- 

 omical department, with Lick Observatory) is 

 probably well explained by the cases already 

 cited (mathematics in Columbia and chemis- 

 try in Harvard). As to the strength of the 

 cultural value astronomy and its history has, 

 all scholars agree. 



Combining the study of botany and zoology 



with biology, we have here again a very inter- 

 esting situation. The actual number of his- 

 tory courses in these subjects is small in com- 

 parison with the other courses, but in the num- 

 ber of students they are fair. Over 75 per 

 cent, of these courses are represented by a 

 course in evolution, history and theory. The 

 reason for this inclusion is probably one per- 

 sonal to the writer; but, from his experience, 

 it is a just reason. At two different times he 

 has taken a course upon the theory of evolution 

 from the biological and philosophical depart- 

 ments, and in each case the historical method 

 was strongly emphasized. Probably in all the 

 history of thought no greater principle has 

 been discovered and developed than the doe- 

 trine and theory of evolution. One can not 

 study evolution unless the principal factors of 

 biology are considered, and these have a his- 

 torical antecedence or sequence; and vice 

 versa, one can not study biology unless he con- 

 stantly bears in mind the evolutionary prin- 

 ciples involved. 



In the matter of the interest and theories 

 of those teaching, there is a firm desire to ad- 

 vance this subject. Prom the small percentage 

 of returned answers the figures do not repre- 

 sent actual conditions, but as a whole no doubt, 

 they are fairly good. At ITorthwestern Uni- 

 versity a course is being given which, accord- 

 ing to the title'^^ and other information regard- 

 ing methods of conducting the course, bears 

 evidence of decided value. The class (1913- 

 14) had a total of 13 students, with a good 

 percentage of graduates. According to another 

 letter, from Whitman College ("Walla Walla, 

 Wash.), Professor H. S. Erode offers a series 

 of well-selected and comprehensive lectures on 

 the history of biology, in conjunction with the 

 general coiu-se — the attendance in class being 

 on the average, 30. The reason for mention- 

 ing these special com-ses is to show recogni- 

 tion of their value, and the spirit of interest 

 found alike in different types of schools — large 

 and small. In Tale University in the depart- 

 ment of zoology, we find again a valuable 



13 ' ' Source of Biological Ideas, from the Re- 

 vival of Learning to the Present," by Dr. W. A. 

 Locy. 



