REVIEW.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1669, 26 June 1879, Page 4

REVIEW.

- ELEMENTABT SCIENCE.* When a colonial system of education was introduced by Mr Bowen's Bill, the prescribing of elementary science as a compulsory subject in tho work of primary schools provoked much criticism throughout the whole oolony. Nearly all those interested in the welfare of education allowed that the subject was of surpassing value. Pew critics were found hardy enough to attack the educational value of a line of study which had for its object tho imparting of the iundamental laws which regulate the phenomena of the world in which wa live. But though the value of the subject could not bo impugned, there were grounds upon which the conservative or captious critic might take up his opposing position. The subjoct was new ; it formed no part of the English code, nor of othor colonial sjscems ; the schoolmasters had quite enough to do without having this new work foisted on them, and moreover, most of tho schoolmasters, it was said, knew little or nothing of the subject; the subject itself was vague, both as to limita and method of treatment. In short, to sum up the opinions, it was freely allowed that science was a valuable subject, but that thero was practical •difficulties in the way of teaohing it. To neutralise this form of opposition there fortunately exists a class of men who are always ready to carry out orders, and energetic enough to break down those flimsy barriers which are but too often opposed to the advance of a rational and thoughtful improvement. The honor has been reserved for our own education district to show, not only to New Zealand gonorally, but to all interested in education matters, that science if properly handled is a moat valuable mental discipline, and that by judicious management a proper place and due amount of attention can be secured for it in tho ordinary curriculum of school study. Messrs Curnow and Morrison in putting forth fteir book to the public have done, and what is more have done thoroughly well, a much needed work. The syllabus of science teaching put forward by the Education Department was inasmuch aa no ckss book was recommended whioh covered the proscribed ground. The reason that no single book was recommended was obvious: the-rg was no such book published. Ri cognising this difficulty the department were forced into the position of prescribing s&t portions from different books, a manifestly cumbersome and expensive arrangement. The book before us occupies the position of a class book, exactly adapted to tho Q-overnment regulations, and a valuable commentary upon the intentions of the framers of the Education Act, and its accompanying Orders in Council In writing the lessons tho authors havo carefully taken into consideration the average number of attendances of the pupils of primary schools, and also the at the disposal of teachers; and upan this basis they have furnished a really admirable manual of science for the three years' course of the fourth, fifth, and sixth standards. The book shows on every page accurate scholarship, clear arrangement, and practical knowledge. The friends of education in New Zealand cannot but feel gratified when they see growing up around them not only well conducted and well-officered schools, but also a literature designed to fill those spaces which have not been occupied by the school-book writers of England. We feel assured that in a very short time this manual of elementary science will be found in the possession of every pupil of tho higher standards in the Q-overnment schools ; for its sterling worth, andthe very great ability brought to bear upon it, cannot but force themselves upon the attention of evorjor.e concerned in the work of education.