Abstract
THE merits and demerits of the “Notice by the Board of Studies for the Natural Science School of the University of Oxford” will by this time have been abundantly discussed among all circles of teachers of Natural Science. That the former preponderate over the latter will hardly admit of a question; and if we once more call attention to the defects of the present “Notice,” it is only in order that, by full and free discussion, a thoroughly satisfactory scheme may be at length elaborated. We have already pointed out the subordinate part which Botany plays in the programme, and this defect it is our present object to illustrate more at length. We imagine that the object of the framers of the scheme must have been to lay down in the Preliminary Honour Examination a foundation which will serve to give a solid basis for any superstructure that may be raised upon it—in other words, to supply the student with an adequate mental training to prepare him for whatever special branch he may afterwards take up. Let us see how this works in the case of Botany. The Natural Sciences which will be most useful to the future botanist in enabling him to gain a comprehensive insight into his own subject, are the outlines of Animal Physiology, 'Geology, and Organic Chemistry. Of not one of these subjeets need he necessarily possess any knowledge in order to pass the Preliminary Honour Examination; but, on the other hand, must read up Mechanics, Physics, and Inorganic Chemistry. It seems to us a mistake to make the physical side of Science of such preponderating weight in the preliminary examination, to the entire exclusion of the biological.
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Botany in the Oxford Natural Science School . Nature 6, 77–78 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/006077a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/006077a0