STUDY OF ASTRONOMY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1925, Page 5

STUDY OF ASTRONOMY

TEACHING THE CHILDREN. FASCINATION OF THE SUBJECT, “Wo desire our children to be familiar With, at least, the more prominent natural objects by which they are surrounded, and to know something of their nature and constitution, yet, by some strange flaw in our philosophy, we seem content to allow people to grow up in practically complete ignorance of the most wonderful and inspiring free show which is presented to our gaze.’’ This was the opinion voiced by the Rev. O. Blundell, honorary director of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society, during the course of an interesting address on the subject “Astronomy in Our Schools," '. -.■fore the annual meeting of the society on Tuesday evening. “Surely it ought to be made possible," continued Mr. Blundell, “for our young people to be at once able to distinguish a planet from a star; to know the path which sun, moon and planets follow among the stars, and to be able to name at sight the five principal planets and the zodiacal constellations. “Owing to the fact that so many teachers are unfamiliar with even the most elementary facts of astronomy, the British Astronomical Association, some few years ago, instituted a system whereby certain of its members periodically visit many of the schools in Great Britain and give lessons to the scholars upon astronomy. While such a plan might not work in this country, it ought to be possible, in such centres as New Plymouth, to provide for instruction being given in our schools upon this very fascinating and uplifting subject. “It will probably be found that two difficulties stand in the way of such instruction being given. Firstly, the time is already fully taken up and, secondly, very few teachers are themselves equipped with a sufficient knowledge of the subject. “As regards the former, it needs to bj borne in mind that the persons responsible for the present curricula obtaining in our primary and secondary schools are themselves victims of the neglect accorded the science of astronomy, and in all probability have never yet, been sufficiently impressed by the value in mental training which a knowledge of the subject imparts. The experience of ail professional and amateur astronomers, and of those also who would claim to be known as nothing more than ‘astrophiles’ or ‘stargazers,’ is that the study of the heavenly bodies does more to expand the mind and sharpen the intellect than any other one subject.

“in regard to the second difficulty mentioned, it would be by no means a difficult task for any teacher to acquire, from the admirable text books of astronomy now available, a good working knowledge of the subject. A careful study of the late Sir John Herschel's ‘Outlines of Astronomy,’ to mention only one work, would prove both stimulating to the teacher and able to qualify him to impart a great deal of helpful information to hla scholars. “It will appear then that there is a certain lack of commonsense in the failure displayed to inculcate a taste for astronomical research in the minds of our young people. If the rising generation among us is to keep pace with the growth of knowledge which is in progress in the world of science, and to possess those powers of mental vision and grasp which will enable it to become distinguished among the leaders of thought and progress, then it may be pertinently inquired why the study of that natural science, which, above all others is able to expand and exalt the mind, should be virtually so neglected and discouraged.

“There is really no sufficient reason why every boy and girl who attains to a fifth standard education, should not know the visible heavens as thoroughly as they know the streets of the town, and be able to follow the great apparent movements of the constellations and recognise the planets In their marches among the stars. Equipped with even that amount of astronomical knowledge, we should without doubt see numbers of our young people turning their attention to pursuits far above those which the present average of intellectual ambition leads to, and so serving themselves heirs to the privileges and opportunities which the new generation will surely be given in years to come.

At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Blundell was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

The observatory which had been established about five years ago continued to attract visitors, stated the annual report of the director (Rev. O. Biundell), and 832 visits had been made during the past year, in comparison with 632 in the previous year. Ths cordial thanks of the society were due to Messrs. F. J. Morehead, D. Wilkinson, and B. M. Wilson for the time they had given to showing telescopic objects to visitors. Unfortunately the society suffered loss during the year by the departure of Mr. D. Wilkinson to Opart, Bay of Islands. Mg. Wilkinson's work at the observatory had been taken up bv" Mr. B. M. Wilson, who discharged his duties with skill and thoroughness. The successful formation of a New Zealand Astronomical Society, with headquarters at Wellington, had led ths executive to link up its own society thereto by appointing the hon. director as its representative member, The society now received reports and news of astronomical discoveries direct from the central observatory, which was a great advantage. Two telescopic comets i and th.e new star in Pictor were early reported, and were still under obser- ; vation. The new etar discovered at Capetown on May 27 was located in I New Plymouth as soon as clouds peri mlttcd. This new star, Nova Pictoris, was the first naked eye nova which had been discovered since tho founding of the (New Plymouth Observatory. Through the good offices of Mr. F. J. Morshead the loan of a filar micro-

meter had been secured from the Government astronomer, Dr. Adams. This had now been adapted to the ffin refractor and certain essential measurements had 'been carried out. The principal books added to the library were “The Draper Catalogue of Stars and Nebulae,” two fine volumes entitled “The Splendour of the Heavens/’ and Professor Dingle’s great work on “Modern Astrophysics?'