460 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 116. 



what the college approves, and it is a part 

 of our work to see to it that the college 

 puts the seal of its approval on sound 

 learning in science as well as on that of the 

 other disciplines which it accepts for en- 

 trance to its halls. 



It seems to me the way before us is clear. 

 Changed conditions have brought new 

 needs, needs that knowledge of science can 

 alone supply. We should do our best to 

 help our day and generation, and in giving 

 it the help of science and the sympathy of 

 nature I feel confident that we are doing 

 right in every way. Science, taught as 

 every true teacher will teach it, will help 

 the students to gain an insight into nature, 

 will bring them face to face with reality, 

 with law and order, and certainly will form 

 at least one element in a noble education. 

 It will emphasize the old lesson that power 

 over nature comes only by obedience to her, 

 and by this obedience, which can come only 

 through understanding, discipline is gained. 

 By action in accordance with law which is 

 understood, and by reflection comes cul- 

 ture. With this discipline and culture 

 come large sympathies and a wide outlook 

 upon the universe. There comes also the 

 consciousness that, while the current of life 

 and law is irresistible, man is a part of the 

 mighty current and his will has its due 

 share in directing it. 



Professor Albert L. Arey, of Rochester 

 Free Academy, introduced the topic of the 

 afternoon in the following address : 



The Educational Value of the Physical Sciences. 

 It needs no skilled observer of the recent 

 progress in educational affairs to discover 

 that we are rapidly approaching that Utopian 

 condition in which the system of education 

 shall be a system in fact as well as in name, 

 and in which the work of the secondary 

 school shall end where the college work be- 

 gins, or, if you prefer the idea in this form, 

 in which every subject tbat is entitled to a 



place in the secondary school shall be re- 

 quired for admission to some course in 

 college. 



As teachers of the sciences it is our duty 

 to accelerate the progress towards this end 

 by all means in our power and to retard it 

 neither by strife among ourselves because 

 of conflicting opinions nor by inaction be- 

 cause of no opinion; but rather, by study- 

 ing the problems confronting us in the same 

 judicial spirit with which we study those of 

 nature, to seek out the truth, and by dis- 

 cussion of our observations and conclusions 

 to speedily settle mooted questions among 

 ourselves. Among these unsettled ques- 

 tions which we may profitably discuss is 

 this : Which science shall be required for 

 admission to college, if but one is required ? 



My own answer to this question would 

 be. Physics; first, because of its funda- 

 mental character. Bacon long ago said 

 that physics was the mother of sciences. 

 The laws and facts of physics are neces- 

 sary to the understanding of all other sci- 

 ences; chemistry is becoming more and more 

 a study of the transformations of energy, 

 and the biologic group is tending in the 

 same direction, while in geology a knowl- 

 edge of physics is more necessary than in 

 either of those mentioned. Without its aid 

 the action of the grand forces which have 

 moulded the earth cannot be comprehended. 

 And, second, its cultural and informative 

 values are at least equal to those of the 

 other sciences. The logical order in mind- 

 building, as in house-building, is to begin 

 at the bottom, and therefore physics should 

 be required for admission to college if but 

 one science is required. I am aware that 

 several societies of schoolmasters have dis- 

 cussed this question, and that in some 

 cases they have reached the conclusion 

 that some other science should be first. 

 And I hardly expect my friends, the biolo- 

 gists, to agree with me, but friendly discus- 

 sion leads to progress, and I hope that we 



