Ellsworth American., 1877-12-06
The Natural Sciences IN Common
Schools.
ABSTRACT OF A PAPER READ ny PROFESSOR
JACOB ENNIS, AT A MEETING OF I'll
FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.

ABSTRACT OF PAPER READ ny PROFESSOR
JACOB ENNIS. AT MEETING OF THE
FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.
Every day when the last half hour of
school time arrives. the pupils should take
their seats closely In front of the teacher ;
table. Then the teacher should perform
some scientific experiment, or exhibit some
object OF natUral history, and tell all that
can well be told about IL. That is, he or
| she, should every day deliver n conversa-
tiona, lecture half f-an-hour long. and prac-
tically illustrated by some exhibition in
science. When taught in this way, the nat
ural sciences are more easy TO be learned
than arithmetic or grammar. Ii is as easy
to understand that oxygen and hydrogen
unite TO form water, as that two and two
make four; and the delight OF the child in
seeing water composed In this way, is
greater, beyond all comparison, than to
| see that two and two make four. What
| can be easier than to learn that common
salt which we daily eat l. composed OF q
metal (sodlum,) aud a beautiful greenish-
yellow gas (chioriue.l As all the words
OF book are composed Of only twenty-six
letters, So every child can understand that
all the various substances on our globe are
composed of sixty-three simple elements.
The great science OF chemistry is nothing
more than TO have "A knowledge of these
sixty three elements. and how they are
united to form compounds, and what are
| the natures OF these compounds. The first
step for the learner Is TO see these simple
elements, to handle them, to experiment
with them. and to understand their chief
characteristics. This lets the child at once
into the great secrets OF the universe, as
clear as day. and he is delighted
4 II the other uhysirai SCHEMES can he
made rs simple and easy as chemistry
and when all are harmoulOusly united.
what world of wonders do they open be-
| fore the astonished view of the youthful
| mind. IL is qnitc enough tor the young
| student TO learn the general principles OF
these sciences, copiously illustrated by
| facts. They are the most valuable parts OF
science, for they give blrd's.eye view
/ OF an entire science. and the method OF
working In that science. These general
! principles are also the most delightful por-
I tons. On this account IL Is that IN an or
/ dinary course OF education, say until the
| child i Is or lG years old, all the natural
| sciences should be introduced. Then the
I child imbibes and enjoys the very cream OF
( them tIi lie j. delighted because he j.
every day seeing and hearing ,omethn /.
new. What lie learns with delight. he re-
members long. Indclible ideas AMI i'm
| presslsns are then produced lie may very
/ properly omit the minutIG Il of the sciences,
/ III" difficult aud the puzzicsomc parts.
I which may be learned from books IN ma
I turer years; for IL t. wonderful fact.
which may we'll tii u an with amazement
1 at the wlde extent OF creation, that an the
/ scierCe> are 20 very extensive, that 10
/ scientific man "a perfect In any one No
/ astronomer knows al the facts In a,trun-
/ omy, no chemist Is familiar with all the
/ Facts IN chemistry, TO bptagi-t knows all
I the plants. no zoojostst knows all the anil
/ nal-. Therefor, the mouth of the ohjyc-
I tpr i stopped la child is not 10 study
4 tie >rtences because he can not learn
/ everything they contain, then 10 one should
study them - all.
Delight the pupils during the last h,lf
! hour uf every DAY with the wonderful eX-
/ h!bitions and wonderful truth, oi the set
enccs. aud those pupils viii make more
I progress in all their present pri nary stud
/ les. Instead OF being hindrrnncc to the
/ other Orances, the sciences must be help.
! II The chid> Interest i now SLOW. II is not
| for wani OF time. bat for wan, of iutkrest
! In his school. Awaken an interest aAu he
| Will 20 forward. The natural sciences
\ are the very thing TO arouse attention. to
/ inspire life and animation. | 30 not wonder
u Ia
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