The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
WEATHER FoRECAsr1Ne g HIT.
Boston School Children Instructed In the Sci.
ence OF Dunn.

Boston school Children Instructed In the Sci.
ence OF Dunn.
Boston. June 12.-In educational matters
Boston has taken a step that might we'll be fol-
lowed in other cities, especially in the West,
whore cyclone cellars are desirable and floods
are OF frequent occurrence. This step is the
teaching in the public schools of the science of
weather forecasting. 1t is true that this is done
to some limited extent in other big cities, and
that Mr.. Dunn has labored hard and long TO in.
troduce 1t in the New York schools. but, as far
rs known, Boston is the first city whose School
Board has recognized and authorized the study.
The custom OF teaching mcteorology by the
use of weather maps has grown in New England
until ]. W. Smith, in charge Of the Weather
Bureau. sends out maps to 40 schools. OF
course most Of these schools are in Boston, but
some maps are sent to Maine, New Hampshire,
and Connecticut schools. The method of teach.
ing is to use the weather maps largely as ad-
juncts to the geography. and there is no first
class in cyclones or second class in blizzards. as
Prof. W. II. Davis and R. De C. Ward of Har-
study and nave given courses Of lectures to the
teachers, 90 that they might know on what lines
But b sp aSa iion' sh shtnn sP ~ the s1 credit sGT ta to i ES ssSns 4;
the hest study Is due to The Local forecaster :. W;
weather In a given length Of time than a.
most any other man In the country, M;
Smlths theory 10, that the children should
learn at least the rudiments of the sci.
exact meaning Of the technical lines and marks
present condition.. but What they %fooreteii OF the
weather conditions for the morrow. The com.
to avail itself generally Of the work OF the Signal
Service Bureau. and thus make that work OF
more ySiGe TO the country as a whole; Mr..
have any knowledge of, the laws that govern
storms 10 very small. and he is interested heart
IN EnNNl N m fhA In ~ -A~a-1
The Boston station of the Weather Bureau
has held for some years the record in the mum
was the drst which published the new chalk.
plate map that Is such an improvement over the
I fhint isr tSst the @ stnds e Ma's6 msR; M Ssd, Smith s6 18th
interest OF life; that ii gives admirable training
IN simple scientific Investigation and habits OF
thought, and that 1t turns the attention from
books and indoor work to outdoor observations
and makes those who study 1t more attentive
Under the present system in Boston school
children may have in their hands each day a
synoptic chart showing the exact weather condi.
tons which prevailed all over the United States
q few hours, or 1t may be the day, before. These
TO temperature. pressure, winds, clouds. rain,
and snow. are a never failing storehouse Of ma.
ssrial for use in studying meteorology. Any
day. and he may find on his weather map for a
certain day the exact conditions which cause
After teaching the pupil to make intelligent
use OF his own weather observations. the use OF
inc ordinary thermometer ana OF the rain gauge
Ia taken up. supplemented later by the maxi
mum and minimum thermometers. wet and dry
bulb Thermometers. and barometers. By means
or these Instruments tho pupils gain more def.
mite knowledge regarding weather and its
changes, and learn TO discover for themselves the
relations Of the weather clements. After some
practice in Instrumental work. the daily maps
may be studied.
The relation OF low and high barometric press.
ure to cyclones and anti-cyclones; the occur.
renee OF stormy weather with low pressure
areas. and OF fine weather with high pressure;
the relations OF thunder storms and tornadoes to
areas OF low pressure or cyclones-these and
many other facts arc discovered by the pupils
who use the weather maps intelligently and un.
der proper guidance. After the individual
weather elements have been studied separately
they should all DO taken together as they appear
on the ordinary weather map. The drawing OF
lines OF equal pressure and OF lines OF equal TEN.
perature on blank outline maps of the United
states, the necessary data being furnished by
a%tructirc piece of work for the pupil. Prizes for
tho best work In weather and climate in New
1 have been Oforod.