ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. Hx. 



Meeting held on Thursday, November 16th, 1916. 



Mr. Loxley Meggitt in the Ohair. 



Mr. C. J. White, b.Sc, Teachers' College, opened a dis- 

 cussion upon "Science in the Schools." The teaching of 

 science in the primary schools was unnecessary, as its 

 place was taken by a system of instruction in nature study 

 which began when the pupil was six years of age. The 

 course had for its object the building up of a habit of 

 enquiry, and the method of teaching rather than the matter 

 was of importance. From the developing of his powers of 

 observation as in differences of form, the scholar was gradu- 

 ally led up to the study of natural phenomena associated 

 with the growth of plants. At the age of thirteen or four- 

 teen he began to receive some instruction in elementary 

 physics by means of simple experiments in the action of 

 heat, water, pressure, and so on. 



Mr. F. W. Carpenter, m.a., Sydney Grammar School, 

 dealt with the science education of boys from fourteen 

 years in the secondary schools. He would like to see a 

 greater latitude in the school curriculum, so that useful 

 training might not be set aside for work that will pay in 

 examinations. Too much attention is paid to examination 

 work in which 5% of the bright boys are specially catered 

 for, while the remaining 95% suffer more or less. The 

 schools should develop a scientific way of thinking and give 

 a good all-round knowledge of fundamental facts. This 

 would be greatly enhanced were the fundamental sciences 

 of physics and chemistry made compulsory in the matricu- 

 lation examinations of the University. The tendency at 

 present is to demand more science in the schools, and to 

 meet this more good teachers must be forthcoming. This 

 however, will be impossible, unless the "plums" of teach- 

 ing are open to men with good scientific ability. The head 

 masters of our schools are chosen for their classical rather 

 than for their scientific attainments. 



