February, ’23] 
SANDERS: PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 
33 
bacteriology, have we, generally speaking, approximated the publicity 
secured to the latter? Yet we are for the most part dealing with creatures 
visible to the unaided eye and of most remarkable coloration and con¬ 
formation, and which lend themselves readily to observation, study and 
a reasonable accumulation of knowledge thereof. It should be our 
legitimate desire to force our present day knowledge of entomology 
into our public schools, especially in the lower grades where early im¬ 
pressions will be strong to continue science study, so that the distaste 
for natural science so evident in higher grades, due largely to the average 
uninterested teacher’s method of giving medicinal doses of science from 
a textbook, may be avoided. 
In that phase of economic entomology pertaining to definite pest 
control, remarkable advancement has been achieved, and our knowledge 
of practical control covers a wide range of methods, which surely are 
easy of application and entail but slight expense in comparison with 
the benefits to be derived. But with all this amazing fund of knowledge 
available to the entomologist, we are startled on every hand either with 
the sublime indifference of the layman or his complete ignorance of 
facts. One realizes afresh this amazing ignorance of otherwise educated 
people every time he mentions the subject of entomology in public, 
and honestly senses his efforts to educate as well-nigh fruitless. Shall 
we not realize and confess here and now that a permanent barrier and 
handicap to a general diffusion of knowledge of insects and pest control 
will exist so long as we permit our children to grow to mature years 
without a reasonable fundamental knowledge of the simpler character¬ 
istics of insects and their habits coupled with an appreciation of damage 
wrought by them. Can we not see the very distinctive advantage in 
broadcasting advice on control of a new pest if our efforts were expended 
on individuals whose minds were partially prepared and receptive? 
There is in course of preparation in the Pennsylvania Department of 
Education a compilation of elementary science studies submitted by 
scientists in various institutions, which will be edited and unified by the 
Director of Science Study for the purpose of introduction in the secondary 
schools of the state. These science studies, illustrated consistently with 
experiments and visual tests of easily obtainable materials, thoroughly 
yet concisely explained step by step, we believe will serve to open a new 
world to the younger children, and acquaint them in a pleasing and 
attractive manner with nature’s methods and her creatures. Then can 
we not safely predict when hundreds of thousands of these informed 
children have grown to manhood and womanhood they will accord a more 
