130 APPENDIX. 
[ Letter from Professor Agassiz. ] 
EDITORS OF THE AMERICAN NATURALIST : 
CAMBRIDGE, March 6, 1871. 
Dear Sirs: — The time seems to have come when to the 
received methods and approved topics of popular education 
such branches of physical and natural sciences should be 
added as have acquired real importance for the business of 
life during the last fifty years. There is only one difficulty 
in the way of this most desirable object. There are no 
teachers to be had—not-enough to be found in the whole 
State of Massachusetts simply to provide the Normal Schools 
— whatever efforts might be made to introduce these studies 
at present, and the demand is likely to become more press- 
ing every day. It would seem, therefore, to be the part of 
wisdom to consider what may be done to prepare the way. 
For years past I have been urging upon the educational sec- 
tion of the Social Science Association, the desirableness of 
introducing a complete course of scientific instruction in our 
Normal Schools, not from text books, but with experiments 
and demonstrations by special teachers ; and I now hold that 
it would be still better to organize a special Normal School 
for the training of scientific teachers. The world will re- 
quire them everywhere before many years are passed, and 
it would be fitting that, in the United States, Massachusetts 
should set an example, timely, in the right direction. But 
even this must be heralded in some way or other, and I see 
no better or more efficient way than the circulation of soun 
information upon the topics regularly to be taught. Your 
desire, therefore, to give to the American NATURALIST 4 
wider circulation among the schools, and throughout the 
State, meets fully my approval, and I will support your 
efforts in every way that may appear practicable. It would 
be a step in the right direction if you could secure for your 
periodical the same facilities and aid which are granted to the 
“Massachusetts Teacher,” as the AMERICAN NATURALIST ! 
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