APPENDIX, AMERICAN NATURALIST, APRIL, 1871. 
NATURAL HISTORY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
THINKING that a strong effort should now be made for the encourage- 
ment of the study of Natural Science in the Public Schools of the country, 
eminent educators) recently asked the Legislature of Massachusetts to 
grant a small aig ta for the purpose of supplying T the 
higher schools of the State with copies of the NATURAL , believing 
that beneficial Fades both to the teacher and scholar, Sac follow the 
perusal of its pages, and that by presenting the subject to the scholar in 
this form, a love for the study would be awakened, which it is impossible 
to secure ra a from text books, that are in themselves repellant to 
the beginne 
The aaau of Massachusetts referred the petition to its Committee 
on Education, and that Committee, with full appreciation of the import- 
ance of the subject, gave a hearing to those interested, on the ninth of 
March, when the following letters were read, and remar rks were made by 
several gentlemen on the importance and probable ina to results 
o n 
ret that no report was made of the remarks of Hon. Joseph 
White, gt a of the Massachusetts State Board of Education. This 
gentleman endorsed the proposition as one well wort hy of being tried 
by the State, and while believing that good results would follow, said that 
the plan was an experiment, but as it was an experiment in the right 
direction he thought it should be tried, and as Secretary of the Board of 
Education he was soit that the copies could be distributed advan- 
tageously among the schoo 
The decision of the ula oe has not yet been given,* but believing 
that the plan will meet with advocates in other rene as well as in Mas- 
sachusetts, and hoping to see it tried elsewhere, we have concluded to 
print such portion as we have in writing of ie ‘testimony given before 
the zopp Committee,’ for the perusal of those in other States 
who may be friendly to the cause. 
Avoiding iA n this place, we will only remark, : anticipation 
of some replies, that the NATURALIST Was not established as a pec 
speculation, and is maintained by the fostering care of t ret Trustees of 
the Seahody Academy of Science, as one of the means of carrying out 
the wishes of the founder of the Academy, who, ever thoughtful of the 
benefit of mankind, distinctly enjoined upon his trustees the promotion 
st Science and Useful Knowledge, not only in his native county, but in 
our Commonwealth and common country.” 
*Since thi t in type the Committee on Education have reported favorably. 
cytes = wot beast 
