EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN SCHOOLS. 
255 
most of the black “ fairy ” clubs ( Xylaria ) are also black fungi. 
Many of them, however, are earth tongues ( Geoglossum ) and a 
very few are clavarias. 
NEEDED IMPROVEMENT IN EXPERIMENTAL 
WORK IN SCHOOLS. 
By Jean Broadhurst, 
New Jersey State Normal and Model Schools. 
Much of the work in experimentation as it is now conducted in 
the teaching of the various sciences defeats its own aim—the de¬ 
velopment of independent thought and of the attitude of the in¬ 
vestigator and inventor. 
I do not refer to the older type of experiment work where the 
pupil is required to follow a set of clearly-defined directions to 
attain a result defined even more clearly. We are fortunately 
past that stage. 
The methods now in general use are much sounder in prin¬ 
ciple. Our high school text books contain definite directions for 
experiments, but ask the pupil to interpret the results, so as to 
arrive at certain conclusions or establish important rules or prin¬ 
ciples. This is certainly an undoubted advance. Does it, how¬ 
ever, accomplish its own aim? How often have you seen a pupil 
complete the prescribed directions and fail to interpret the result ? 
Urged, how often does he answer, “ I don’t understand it ” ? 
This state of affairs is not uncommon. I have seen it even in 
Junior classes in college. Why? 
Often, because the apparatus is too complicated to serve as a 
means to an end; often, because it demands technical knowledge 
and definite manipulation beyond the ability of the average pupil; 
more often, because the pupil is more concerned in “ doing the 
experiment ” than in the search for the truth itself. Science, 
like arithmetic, becomes mere “ getting the answers ”; any sci¬ 
ence approached in this way deteriorates into a series of difficult 
puzzles and guessing the answers to these soon becomes a tire- 
