540 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 118. 



direct thought as ijiduced by the object 

 studied, not to pour into the young mind 

 thoughts of others. There is no surer way 

 of disgusting a child with nature than to 

 give him hxws and technical terms that are 

 beyond his years. 



Dr. Amelia Earle Trant, of the Buffalo 

 high school, spoke from the standpoint of a 

 high school teacher of physiology working 

 under conditions not altogether favorable, 

 such as large classes, and pupils with no 

 previous knowledge of chemistry or phys- 

 ics. While thorough scientific work here 

 is perhaps impossible, there are, however, 

 certain definite results obtainable which are 

 not only valuable and practicable, but also 

 consoling and, on a broad outlook, satisfac- 

 tory. She must be satisfied to ignore the 

 meagre amount of technical physiology pos- 

 sible to be taught under such conditions, if 

 a few things in English and ethics can be 

 mastered. 



For instance, she would be satisfied if the 

 definition of physiology is so clearly under- 

 stood that the word may be used inter- 

 changeably with its synonyms, use, func- 

 tion, action or of&ce ; if the distinction be- 

 tween the terms physiology, anatomy and 

 hygiene is clear beyond question ; if the 

 vital, practical import of personal hygiene 

 and of public sanitation is too firmly im- 

 pressed to be forgotten ; if the difference 

 between vivisection and dissection is clear 

 enough for missionary work in the house- 

 hold — information as to the value, the 

 necessity and the place of each being so 

 much needed in these days of sensational 

 head lines ; if the etiquette of class demon- 

 stration, is acquired, so that all material is 

 regarded with appreciative interest rather 

 than with amusement, flippancy or pseudo- 

 disgust; if reverence for the wonder and 

 the mystery of created things is so increased 

 that the pupil's attitude of kindness could 

 but be approved by the Humane Society ; 

 if a little lesson in broad-mindedness is 



learned and the Ainsworth Law found not to 

 be the whole of alcohol ; if interest has been 

 aroused— even if the majority of bo3'S, and 

 girls as well, decide with the iridescent im- 

 agination of youth that they will be physi- 

 cians ; if the knowledge of physiological 

 problems yet to solve will be likely to make 

 simple reading of scientific discoveries in- 

 teresting in the days to come ; if at the end 

 of the term most of the pupils are able to 

 hold their own in a test from the outside, 

 questions reasonable and broad, such as the 

 Regents' examinations have been of late ; 

 and finally she is satisfied if, when leaving 

 the subject, the pupils take with them its 

 most important lesson of life — that the 

 physiological axiom, " The well being of 

 the whole depends upon the integrity of the 

 unit," is also a great ethical truth, inex- 

 orable not only in the human organism, but 

 also in the school, the family, the State 

 and the N"ation. 



The other speakers were Professor H. J. 

 Schmitz, of Genesee Normal, and Dr. 

 Frank McMurry, of Buffalo School of 

 Pedagogy. 



The convention closed with a business 

 meeting Thursday afternoon. A number 

 of changes were made in the constitution. 

 It was decided to have a committee of nine 

 members appointed by the President to re- 

 port to the Association at its next annual 

 meeting on the following subjects : ( 1 ) The 

 recognition of science as a requirement for 

 entrance to colleges. (2) Science courses 

 for secondary schools. (3) Nature study 

 in elementary schools. 



The following officers were elected for 

 the year 1897. The presidency was offered 

 to Professor Gage for another year, but at 

 his earnest request, another was nominated 

 in his stead. 



President, Dr. E. L. Nichols, Cornell University ; 

 Vice-President, Dr. Charles W. Hargitt, Syracuse 

 University ; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Franklin 

 W. Barrows, Buffalo High School. 



