135 



Charles Wright's time, Dr. Britton exhibited many interesting 

 herbarium specimens secured on the recent expedition to that 

 island. 



He also reviewed the literature relating to the Cuban flora, 

 after which discussion followed. 

 Adjourned. 



Percy Wilson, 



Secretary 



OF INTEREST TO TEACHERS 



Some Reflections upon Botanical Education in America 



By W. F. Ganong 



In a word the first great need of our science teaching is to make 

 it scientific. 



The second of the four principal causes of our inferior teaching 

 is this, we take more tJioiiglit for oiir stibject than we do of our 

 stiuients. In the graduate teaching of a university this attitude is 

 logical, but in college and school it is wholly wrong. I think we 

 may express the matter thus, that any teacher who is more inter- 

 ested in his subject than in his students is fit only for a university. 

 It is, I am sure, somewhat more characteristic of scientific than 

 of other teachers that they tend to shut themselves up in their 

 subjects, and to withdraw more than they ought from the common 

 interests, duties and even amenities of the communities in which 

 they live. For this, of course, the very attractiveness of science 

 is largely responsible, because to those who have once passed the 

 portals, science offers an interest so vastly and profoundly absorb- 

 ing that all other matters appear small by comparison ; and we 

 are apt to conclude that the nobility and beneficence of such a 

 mistress are sufficient justification for a complete immersion in her 

 service. We forget that science has no existence apart from 

 humanity, and no meaning unless contributory, however indirectly, 

 to human welfare and happiness. And it should be emphasized 

 to every young teacher that success in science teaching, as in so 

 many other occupations, is well-nigh in direct proportion to one's 

 ability to influence people. Our science teaching would be better 



