Sir John Lubbock moved on Thursday his usual resolution for
including "Elementary Natural Science" amongst the extra or optional subjects for which children at the primary schools may gain credit under the present Education Code. As usual, he made his case unanswerable,—showed how much a little extra power of choice would add to the opportunities of school managers, and to the interest taken in the schools by those managers ; how amusing and awakening the elementary facts of natural science might be made, and how little elementary education does at present to foster the love of nature and the interest in natural phenomena. Mr. Forster came to Sir John Lubbock's help, and showed how absurd it was to argue that because ignorant farmers are afraid of pert boys who know how to read, and who hardly know anything else, the knowledge of a few mere elementary natural facts would make the boy who had that knowledge perter than ever, and his employer, the farmer, more afraid of him than ever. It was all of no use. Lord George Hamilton, speak- ing for the Department, defended rigidity, and condemned options, as giving trouble to Inspectors, and also made much play with the complexity and vagueness of the phrase "natural science." Indeed, Lord George was evidently as horrified at heart at the idea of putting a very little science into small child- ren, as a sensitive mother is at gaining for her daughters the repute of being "blue." The motion of Sir John Lubbock was rejected, by 68 against 37 votes.
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