Part 8 (1/2)

I have already hinted that such scientific training as we seek for ant claim upon the time now devoted to education We ask only for ”a most favoured nation” clause in our treaty with the schoolmaster; we deiven to it as any other single subject--say four hours a week in each class of an ordinary school

For the present, I think e for ement can be, or will be, permanent In these times the educational tree seems to me to have its roots in the air, its leaves and flowers in the ground; and, I confess, I should very ht be solidly e the facts of Nature, and draw thence a sound nutrie and fruit of literature and of art No educational systenises the truth that education has two great ends to which everything else e; the other is to develop the love of right and the hatred of wrong

With wisdohtness a nation can make its orthily, and beauty will follow in the footsteps of the two, even if she be not specially invited; while there is perhaps no sight in the whole world norance of everything but what other uidance; but with the sense of beauty so keen, and the power of expression so cultivated, that their sensual caterwauling may be almost mistaken for the music of the spheres

At present, education is almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of the power of expression, and of the sense of literary beauty Theto say, beyond a hash of other people's opinions, or of possessing any criterion of beauty, so that we uish between the Godlike and the devilish, is left aside as of nothat if science were , at s could not exist

In advocating the introduction of physical science as a leading eleher schools On the contrary, I believe that such a change is even more imperatively called for in those primary schools, in which the children of the poor are expected to turn to the best account the little tireat step in this direction has already been made by the establishment of science-classes under the Department of Science and Art,--a measure which came into existence unnoticed, but which will, I believe, turn out to be of more importance to the welfare of the people than es over which the noise of battle has rent the air

Under the regulations to which I refer, a schoolmaster can set up a class in one or more branches of science; his pupils will be examined, and the State will pay hi I have acted as an exa of its establishment, and this year I expect to have not fewer than a couple of thousand sets of answers to questions in Physiology,people of the artisan class, who have been taught in the schools which are now scattered all over great Britain and Ireland Soues, who have to deal with subjects such as Geoanised, I understand are likely to have three or four times as many papers So far as reat deal of the teaching, the results of which are before ood; and I think it is in the power of the examiners, not only to keep up the present standard, but to cause an almost unlimited i out a very moderate inducement, the masters of primary schools in many parts of the country have been led to convert them into little foci of scientific instruction; and that they and their pupils have contrived to find, or to h to carry out this object with a very considerable degree of efficiency That efficiency will, I doubt not, be very much increased as the system becomes known and perfected, even with the very limited leisure left to masters and teachers on week-days And this leadsbe limited to week-days?

Ecclesiastically-s they do not like by very hard names, and I should not wonder if they brand the proposition I a this, I venture to ask, Would there really be anything wrong in using part of Sunday for the purpose of instructing those who have no other leisure, in a knowledge of the phaenomena of Nature, and of man's relation to Nature?

I should like to see a scientific Sunday-school in every parish, not for the purpose of superseding any existing ood, but side by side with them

I cannot but think that there is rooreat abyss of ignorance which lies at our feet

And if any of the ecclesiastical persons to whoatory to the honour of the God who to the infinite wonder and majesty of the works which they proclaim His, and to teach them those lahich s needful for man to know--I can only recommend the very wrong going on in the instruic if it turns out such conclusions from such premises

Footnotes:

[1] Mr Quam's words (_Medical Times and Gazette_, February 20) are:--”A feords as to our special Medical course of instruction and the influence upon it of such changes in the elementary schools as I have mentioned The student now enters at once upon several sciences--physics, chey, botany, phare and the laws of each, to beof the Medical coursebetter than the Exae Lecturer have reported for their Universities Supposing that at school young people had acquired soe in physics, chemistry, and a branch of natural history--say botany--with the physiology connected with it, they would then have gained necessary knowledge, with so The whole studies are processes of observation and induction--the best discipline of the mind for the purposes of life--for our purposes not less than any 'By such study (says Dr Whewell) of one or more departments of inductive science the mind may escape from the thraldom of mere words' By that plan the burden of the early Medical course would be htened, andSir Thoe of Medicine”

VI

SCIENCE AND CULTURE

[1880]

Six years ago, as soe of addressing a large asseether to do honour to the memory of their famous townsman, Joseph Priestley; [1] and, if any satisfaction attaches to posthulory, we may hope that the manes of the burnt-out philosopher were then finally appeased

No man, however, who is endoith a fair share of common sense, and not more than a fair share of vanity, will identify either conteood; and Priestley's life leaves no doubt that he, at any rate, set a e, and the proht which is at once the cause and the consequence of intellectual progress

Hence I ast us to-day, the occasion of our reater pleasure than the proceedings which celebrated the centenary of his chief discovery The kindly heart would be h sense of social duty would be satisfied, by the spectacle of well-earned wealth, neither squandered in tawdry luxury and vainglorious show, nor scattered with the careless charity which blesses neither hiives nor him that takes, but expended in the execution of a well-considered plan for the aid of present and future generations of those who are willing to help themselves

We shall all be of one mind thus far But it is needful to share Priestley's keen interest in physical science; and to have learned, as he had learned, the value of scientific training in fields of inquiry apparently far remote from physical science; in order to appreciate, as he would have appreciated, the value of the noble gift which Sir Josiah Mason has bestowed upon the inhabitants of the Midland district