BARTON: TEACHERS’ SCHOOL OF SCIENCE. 
29 
material distributed and then the class was usually allowed to study 
by itself for some time before the formal discussion of the topic for 
the day was developed. 
The subject of the year’s work was the Thallophytes, typical 
examples of which were examined. Among the plants studied were 
the following: bacteria, yeasts, various algae, diatoms, etc. The 
final exercise was concluded with a resume and a discussion of the 
relationships of members of the groups, and with the presentation 
of a system of classification. The work was performed with great 
interest and enthusiasm by the class. As the work is largely with 
the microscope much individual help and instruction is needed and 
without the presence of a trained assistant much of it would be 
ineffective. Much credit is due Miss Conant for her services in this 
direction. 
The course in zoology under Mr. Morse, assisted by Miss M. E. 
Cherrington, began on November 22, and ended on March 28, seven¬ 
teen lessons being given. The groups studied this winter included 
several phyla of worms, the Polyzoa, Brachiopoda, and Mollusca. 
In connection with the treatment of these groups lectures were 
given on such topics as regeneration and parasitism. Desiring to 
develop the ability to work independently each student was required 
to procure the necessary dissecting instruments, a text book, and a 
set of laboratory outlines, prepared by Mr. Morse, for guidance in 
observation and dissection of the animals studied. The preparation 
of material, and other details were performed by Miss Cherrington, 
so that Mr. Morse was able to give all his time to the class and indi¬ 
vidual instruction. 
The attendance ranged from 29 to 45 with an average of 36. 
The results attained were very satisfactory, a marked improvement 
on the preceding year being manifest. The same number of stu¬ 
dents took the final test as last year. All passed satisfactorily and 
the average standing of the class rose from 64.8 to 71.8. 
The course in geology, given by the Curator of the School, took 
up the subject of mineralogy. This was the first year of a new 
four years’ course. One general lecture was given upon the funda¬ 
mental principles of chemistry as an introduction. The four follow¬ 
ing lessons were devoted to crystallography and other physical prop¬ 
erties of minerals, and the remaining twelve to descriptive mineral¬ 
ogy in which 118 of the commonest species were studied. The 
