Abstract
THIS is one of a class of books which the system of examining the whole world on a limited schedule, drawn up by a Board of disinterested philanthropists, is bound to produce. It will delight the misguided student whose sole desire is “to get through” with the least knowledge possible, and will disgust every competent teacher. Mr. Davis is in error in stating that his book supplies a gap in literature. The little text-book by Prof. Lloyd Morgan is on the same lines, and appears to us to be far less objectionable, inasmuch as it is, though of smaller dimensions, a more genuine exposition of the principles of the subject, less of a cram-book than the present work, and written with maturer judgment and literary power. The only way to prevent the study of biology, as directed by the University of London, from sinking into a worthless exercise of memory applied to the contents of such little books as this by Mr. Davis, is to change the animals and plants enumerated in the schedule every three years. This, however, would hardly suit the ubiquitous aspirants to a degree for whom alone the Imperial University arranges its curriculum. Nor would it suit Mr. Davis and other more distinguished authors of regulation cram-books. The fact is that genuine education in biology as a science, and the influence of personal contact and association with an active investigator and discoverer as teacher and friend, are destroyed by the Imperial system of schedule and examination; and their place is taken by weary grinding at little books written by teachers of no authority, and too often ignorant as well as unintelligent.
A Text-book of Biology.
By J. R. Ainsworth Davis, Lecturer on Biology in the University of Wales, Aberystwith. (London: Griffin and Co, 1888.)
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Our Book Shelf . Nature 38, 52 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/038052a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/038052a0