THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 



NEGLECTED METHODS OF EDUCATION. 



Read before the Hamilton Association, March 5th, 1895. 

 BY T. W. REYNOLDS, M. D. 



In selecting a subject for discussion I am in a measure treading 

 in the footsteps of others, but in view of the fact that our Association's 

 great aim is educational, I feel that no further apology is necessary 

 for the choice that I have made. Certainly no one, in what we 

 so proudly and justly call "this enlightened age of ours," will dispute 

 the value of education, but I think our time can be profitably spent 

 in considering some of the methods of achieving that great desidera- 

 tum, a good education. Some of our members who are members of 

 the great teaching profession will perhaps feel inclined to say that I 

 am introducing matters which are not only the province of the various 

 teachers associations, which meet from time to time throughout the 

 province, but have been far better dealt with at these meetings. 

 Such I have no doubt is the case as regards the ordinary recognized 

 methods' of education, but even as an onlooker is always said to see 

 more of a game and to be a better judge than those actually engaged 

 in it, so in this case I think that a layman like myself may be per- 

 mitted to at any rate relate his experience in the hope that possibly 

 something of value may be found therein, at least to those of us who 

 are amateurs at the best as far as teaching is concerned ; although 

 from my own professional experience I know that the truly eclectic 

 man is ever ready to avail himself of suggestions or experience wher- 

 ever found, be it among professional men or lay. I feel also that in 

 drawing upon my own experience for ideas, there is a strong possi- 

 bility of offering something original for your consideration and thus 

 laying before you the equivalent of special investigations made in 

 any of our special departments of work. My title though reminds 

 me that it is, however, not the ordinary methods such as are generally 



