Scientific and Literary Teaching in High School 253 



selected list of laboratory exercises to illustrate them, while 

 others wish to make more of a point of analytical work with lab- 

 oratory work to suit. Still others, and these are by far the 

 greater number, are obliged by force of circumstances to give 

 their classes but a smattering of general principles with, perhaps, 

 a poorly selected list of laboratory exercises, or none. 



Whatever the solution to all these difficulites may be in 

 time, there is one reform that must come about before this sci- 

 ence can become firmly established. Nowhere is there enough 

 attention paid to the industrial side of Chemistry. Our best text 

 books have little to say about the subject and as a result the 

 pupils finish the course without getting any adequate idea of 

 what an important factor Chemistry is in modern life. 



In my opinion the high school Chemistry, just as every 

 other science, should not be too technical but should be devel- 

 oped along lines that come in contact with every day human 

 experience. This would give those who will not pursue the 

 study further a lasting knowledge of it and at the same time 

 furnish a good foundation for more advanced study. But as I 

 said before, some agreement must be arrived at by the colleges 

 and then the high schools can have a basis upon which to work 

 out a uniform system. Then and then only will Chemistry take 

 the place it deserves in our high school course. 



But ladies and gentlemen, I would not have you think for a 

 moment that I wish to detract one iota from the importance of 

 literary work. Great lessons can be drawn from the intelligent 

 study of History that will be invaluable and indeed essential to 

 the education of those into whose hands must fall the reins of 

 government in the years that are to come. And of Language it 

 is unnecessary for me to speak, especially of the mother tongue. 

 Too much importance can not be attached to it, especially when 

 we see so large a percentage of our high school graduates that can 

 not write a correct business letter. One is almost inclined to 

 think at times that we should again go back to the old spelling 

 book. 



Unquestionably, at least, one foreign language should be 

 studied, and that thoroughly, and in my humble opinion, that 

 language should be a modern one. But let this be left to the 

 choice of the pupil or his parents. 



I hope I have made myself plain ; the scientists do not want 

 everything. Thev only ask for a proper recognition of what they 

 consider equal in importance to the literary work. The}^ ask 

 and have a right to demand that the science work be placed on a 

 par with that of any other department, and that the pupils who 

 select this course may not be made to feel that they are doing 

 inferior work. 



