HYATT: REPORT OF THE CURATOR. 
231 
Field lessons in geology were given by Prof. George H. Barton 
to tlie pupils of the Boston Normal School. The small number of 
these lessons was due to the prevalence of bad weather. It was 
stated last year that these lessons would be given up, owing to the 
fact that no remuneration was provided for them by the school 
authorities; but in spite of this Professor Barton, when appealed to 
again this spring, found the strength of his resolution weaker than 
his sympathy for the need of such instruction by pupils who were 
destined to be teachers. Thus in a rich city like Boston the pupils 
of its normal school are obliged to ask for gratuitous instruction in 
order to get the small amount of geological work that they feel to 
be necessary. The course has accordingly begun again with a class 
twenty-three in number. Many of these pupils, when they 
become teachers, enter the regular classes of the Teachers’ School 
of Science and take the complete four years’ course. 
It was mentioned in the last annual report that the Trustee of 
the Lowell Institute had concluded to discontinue the out-of-door 
work of the Lowell Institute, and that Professor Barton’s field 
courses would consequently not receive any further support from 
this fund. This misfortune made it necessary to appeal to other 
persons for aid, and luckily a patron was found who sufficiently 
appreciated Professor Barton’s work to give the necessary amount 
for continuing his field lessons for one year. The solidity of Pro¬ 
fessor Barton’s work, and the high esteem in which it is held by 
teachers, and its fine results, are appreciated by all who are ac¬ 
quainted with the facts, and their cessation would be a serious 
drawback to the progress of nature study in the schools. Our most 
sincere thanks and those of many teachers are due to the generous 
donor who has enabled us to continue this work. Professor 
Barton reports upon this part of our work as follows. 
The regular course of these field lessons in geology, consisting of 
ten, was given in the spring of 1899, April 22 to June 24, inclusive. 
The total attendance was 149; the average attendance being 28.9; 
largest number present at one lesson 57, smallest number present 
at one lesson, which occurred on a rainy day, 8. There were ten 
lessons also given in the autumn of 1899, Sept. 16 to Nov. 18, 
inclusive. The total attendance in this course was- 276, average 
attendance 54.8, largest number present at one time 166, smallest 
number present at one time 21. A great improvement on the 
conduct of previous courses became practicable this year, which will 
greatly add to their efficiency. A system of examinations was 
I 
