Claims of Geology in School Courses of General Science

Abstract

THE Interim Report of the Sub-Committee of the Science Masters' Association on ” The Teaching of General Science” (reviewed in NATURE of December 19; 138, 1030) will have been read with much appreciation by all who are interested in school science. While this is under discussion it seems appropriate to direct attention to another report, on ” The Teaching of Geology in Schools”, by a Committee of Section C of the British Association. This latter report will appear in the forthcoming annual volume of the British Association, but unfortunately it was not available in time for consideration by the Science Masters' Sub-Committee. In it, amongst other recommendations, is a strong plea for the inclusion of a certain amount of geology (with physics, chemistry and biology) in all courses of general science. The Science Masters' Sub-Committee decided not to include any geology (or astronomy) in the syllabuses they suggested, ” despite their obvious claims to inclusion”. This decision will be regretted, at any rate by geologists, but it may be hoped that it is not final. Indeed the definition of general science arrived at by the Sub -Committee encourages the hope that the claims of geology can scarcely be overlooked: it begins, ” General Science is a course of scientific study and investigation which has its roots in the common experience of children and does not exclude any of the fundamental sciences”.