A 1887] Instruction in Geological Investigation. 825 
_ achange of continental level; it only opens a question that 
_ must be closed by independent evidence, and at present the 
_ evidence of post-glacial depression in Southern New England is 
very incomplete. The investigation is therefore highly satis- 
factory in leaving us with the watchfulness of uncertainty instead 
of blindfolding our eyes with a definite conclusion. 
| I have said but a word about summer schools. They deserve 
_ More mention, for they are invaluable; they cannot be replaced 
_ byany term-time instruction. The student is led by them to 
new fields and new problems, so widely. different from those of 
7 his college course, that only the all-embracing subject of geol- 
= sy could bring them under one name. Continuity of work is 
7 also à great merit of these schools. They do not suffer from the 
a distraction of other occupations that ordinary teaching has to 
_ Sontend with, and six steady weeks in summer may be made a 
full equivalent of an all-winter’s interrupted course. 
> It need hardly be said that this course of instruction is not 
J Planned with a view of teaching the student.much of what has 
been learned in geology. That is attended to in other courses by 
: map of lectures, reading, and thesis-writing. The work here 
ES described is designed chiefly to place the student where he may 
_ ‘Sain something of the spirit of investigation. Rocks and struc- 
_ tures are shown in but moderate variety, and quotation of simple 
n SPRA learned is not expected to be of great service afterwards ; 
; € facts that have been learned come as directly as possible 
ns Nature, whom the student thus finds that even he may 
eid question. Individual judgment is spurred on to take 
Place of the appeal to authority, and the judgment thus 
ate by €xercise even to its own surprise. Thus, with obser- 
JORU ee, argument combined, the student finds himself pos- 
DA of Seneral methods of work that prepare him to attack 
ems unlike any that he has met in his schooling. Further 
: rs saN new teachers in new fields may then be followed to 
age, but perhaps the best teacher at this stage is 
experience, 
Wig s 
AE a OR a ec e a E a oe a ing aa e a aaa a aie 
; Ee eee ae ee 
