Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-06
The study Of the Natural Sciences in
Common schools.

NVWMOh ~ NuVNiSs
The following is report presented to
the Ohio State Teachers Association, by
f. Merrlck, A. NJ, Professor in Ohio
Wesleyan University, Delaware.
Should the natural sciences, Miner
a!ogy, Botany, Zoology, ETC., be taught
in common schools? In answering this
Question in the affirmative, would not
be understood as asserting the practI'
cahii,y Of givin, thorough knowledge
of these several departments OF science,
in an elementary course Of instruction.
No one, howe .cr, would urge, as val
id reason against teaching a child tc
spell and read, that a thorough knowl
edge of language could not be obtained
in schools of this grade. The sam'
might be sail of almost any other st u'y
These schools are not the place for com
ple,int course Of sluly in any depart
mcn,; they are elementary only. Ih'
question is, what studies should be be
gun here? would urge that the naiu
raj sciences should, whether the pupl
passes into n school Of higher sra!
or not; AMI would have them commen
cel in very early part Of the course
In favor of this, | suggest very briefly
few reasons;
l. 1t corresponds to the or1er OF ma
; ,urc. Our first knowledge is acquire
, through the senses. Things attract tn
attention before abstract truths; "what,
/ preceJes "how?" and "why" This
TOO obvious to require argument or
, lustration.
! 2. These subjects are adapted to IL
| tastes and capacities of children, Ih
: is, indeed, implied in the preceding pr
position, bu. deserves a separate con
t. silcration. 1t must be borne in mir
|. that | am speaking only Of the most o
G yious facts of natural science--chlel
n the names and most common cha:actt
y is,ics of things-a new extension oil t
i knowledge acquired by the younse
children. "What is this?' asks I
y, little boy of his mother, as he holds
o shining pebble in his tiny fingers
r ga slone," is the reply. He is satishe
n He has a name for the object, and
e, will not forget ii. The question is
lie peatcd in reference to pebble Of a We
to different color and lustre, and he
>" ceives the same answer. The little
low is somewhat puzzled, for he St
they differ in some respects; but he W
be sure to mark some points of ayr
nc ment, and so good philosopher is
r. that when the question is repeated
a very few times, he will hardly mistak
ch chip for stone. He has taken his
=" -" lesson in Mneralogy, ana no coll
,v senior could have learned it better
"a. Why not let him take another? II
in. he may no, be more than two or tn
nd years old, but what of that, if he I
IT, l." keep on. Here is down by the bro
nd pdking up pebbles. He has collce
ed, quite a good cabinet. Here are ST
ful round fiat ones; and though almost bl
Or he calls them dollars-his sister C
icb them plates. In playing with them
, fiat stones get scratched. They
ich we'll how it was done, and now ft
lesson in drawing, until mother Il
the see what pretty marks, or "houses,'
on they lulicrously enough call them,,
les. John and Mary can make. "N
Vii. pretty, says mother; "but where
lies you get your slatcs!' "o'' says J
,he they are stones" ayes" replies m
ices er, "but there are different kinds offs
,ool and that which you have been mar
ago. is called slate'stono." Now loo