V 



The ordinary student in our secondary schools usually 

 receives but one half year instruction in botany. A large part 

 of that half year is generally consumed in learning terms, an un- 

 interesting task in any subject. By the time a working botan- 

 ical vocabulary is obtained, little of the five months remains in 

 which to find the real meaning of the subject. At the end of 

 the half year, some other branch is substituted for this one and 

 the little that is learned of botany is soon forgotten, while a con- 

 tinuation of the study for another half year might have led a 

 number of students into more lasting sympathy with the subject. 

 The teacher as well as the pupil finds the results of this short 

 period unsatisfactory, and only the occasional student has 

 obtained sufficient interest to lead to a pursuance of the study 

 beyond the classroom. 



The entrance to the high school opens up to the student at 

 this formative period in his career a variety of attractive lines of 

 study and possibilities for life work. The boy's leading is 

 usually toward the "practical" studies, as mathematics and the 

 physical sciences, the girl's toward literature and languages, and 

 the assistance of these subjects in earning a livelihood has its 

 effect upon the student's likes and dislikes, as well as upon his 

 choice of subjects in the elective course. 



The half year botany is frequently given in the first year 

 when everything is comparatively new. In this crowded period 

 of mental confusion and adjustment, when the student is adapting 

 himself to new methods of study and instruction, its importance 

 to him is lost. Even if given later in the course, it is seldom 

 allowed the importance in the curriculum that other subjects, 

 such as algebra, latin, geometry or literature, have. It is hence 

 considered a minor subject, a study for " girls," as one high 

 school boy expressed it. If required, the student in many cases 

 takes the subject to "pass" it; if elective, because it "sounds 

 easier " than some alternative. 



To sum up : The study of botany does not more often create 

 a lasting interest because of — 



I, The unfortunately crowded period in the pupil's life when 

 it is introduced. 



