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Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 8

SCIENOE JOTTINGS.

Tne enthusiastic supporters of so-called " Bcience " teaching in the primary schools of this Colony have had full swing of their hobby for some months past, but it yet remains to be seen what crop of fruit the present outburst of blossom will bring forth. It is pre-eminently true in scientific studies that there is "no royal road to learning," and there is nothing so dangerous in science as a little knowledge. We fear that many of our teachers have acquired this "little knowledge," and as it suffices to give them a "pass," some will not make any attempt to add to their stock. Now this small amount of scientific knowledge is not dangerous in itself — quite the reverse, — but it certainly becomes so if a teacher makes the slender attainments requited for passing by the Education Department the capital to be employed in teaching others. The only good that may fairly be looked for from the courses of scientific lectures which have been delivered to the teachers of Dunedin and its neighbourhood, is that their general range of knowledge has been increased, and many of them, perhaps, have been led into pleasant and profitable paths of study. True scienoe demands close and patient investigation, and therefore the methods adopted of late have been the reverse of scientific, and tend to bring an otherwise admirable object into ridicule. But there is another phase of the subject, which merits consideration at the hands of all interested in education. This is the preliminary preparation of the children's minds to receive science teaching, — their training from the earliest age to habits of observation, so as to enable them to receive the greatest possible advantage from lessons on scientific subjects. We are led to these remarks by noticing the ample provision made for such trainiug in the schools of the London School Board under their new scheme. A code of regulations detailing the subjects of instruction was drawn up by Professor Huxley, and reduced to systematic and practical form by Dr Gladstone. The Committee of the Board deputed to determine on the subject, resolved that there must be given, in infant schools, " object-lessons of a simple charac ter, with gome such exercise of the hands and eyes as is given in the Kindergarten system ;" and in boys and girls' schools, " systematised object-lessons embracing in the six school years a course of elementary instruction in physical science, and serving as an introduction to the science examinaaions which are conducted by the Science and Art Department."

Ths second part of this scheme is analogous to that required injour primary schools, though the syllabus shows a rational limitation of subjects, which is not the most striking characteristic of our Colonial scheme. But it is to the first part that we think attention should be given. The aim — to quote the words of the syllabus— is "to develop in the children's minds" an interest in the things round and about them; to teach the use of all the senses, and form habits of observation ; to impart a correct knowledge of the commonest things ; to increase the infants' vocabulary and power of expressing themselves." The subjects selected for teaching are to be ordinary " objects illustrative of the three kingdoms of nature— animals, plants, and minerals, especially such as the children meet with commonly in their ordinary life. " These are to be supplemented by diagrams, and such apparatus as will enable the teacher to perform the simplest operations.

It may be saidjthai such a course of objectlessons as is here indicated is given in our schools, but at the same time it is true that it is not system aticaJly and uniformly given. In many schools the value of object-lessons is entirely overlooked, and yet there is nothing that will prove so beneficial when science teaching is fairly introduced. The surest way to introduce this preliminary science teaching is to have the elements of natural science included among the recognised subjects of class examination, and to offer a bonus or grant to teachers who pass a given number of pupils. The London School Board have prepared a circular of instructions to their teachers, said to be full of excellent and valuable suggestions ; and we would recommend our Joed Board to obtain a supply of these, together with the simple and cheap boxes of apparatus supplied along with them, and test their suitability to local wants,

We are but a young community yet, but young communities c»u inaugurate schemes, and carry them out 100, where older communities have gresit difficulties to ovei come. The establishment of zoological stations in Europe and America has been of such singular importance in aiding the researches of working naturalists that at last the idea of attempting jit in Britain baa

arisen. The University of Aberdeen has resolved to establish such a station on the coast, in connection with the natural history laboratory, siuiilar to those already instituted for the Universities of Paris, Vienna, and Leyden. Its objects are:— "l. To supply the laboratory with fresh animals for the purposes of teaching and research. 2. To enable students to become practically acquainted with natural history, and to afford them opportunities of advanced study and independent research during the vacations. 3 To afford means for the exhaustive study of the marine fauna. For the establishment of such a station on the smallest possible scale it is necessary to haye — (1) a movable shed or house with suitable fittings ; (2) a large fishing-boat and a small two-oared boat ; (3) nets and dredges ; (4) aquaria, glassware, and miscellaneous apparatus ; (5) the services of a fisherman and a boy for part of the year. For the purchase of boats and apparatus a sum of £250 is required, and for wages, &c, at least £75 annually." Before this Scottish station has been started, it is to be hoped that the projected one at Sydney will be in operation. This, which is the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, is remarkably well situated for the examination of the rich Bub- tropical fauna of the Australian seas. But we hope that ere long the attempt will be made to establish a similar station in this Colony. Naturally, of course, we would like to see it near Otago Heads, though for some purposes it would be better in such out-of-the-way places as Stewart's Island or Bay of Island, which are probably the richest localities for examining the local marine fauna. Our University is unfortunately BO encumbered that it is not probable that any assistance could be looked for from it for the next decade or two. Similarly, our Institute has such a comparatively small revenue that it could not undertake such a project. So that at first sight it seems somewhat hopeless to look for such an establishment here. But we bring the matter foiward in the hope that it may "simmer gently" in the minds of those interested in natural history, and to acquaint those who are not aware of it how zoology is prosecuted nowadays in the more advanced schools.