A TEXT-BOOK FOR FIRST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOLS ADA L. WECKEL, M.S. HEAD OF BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, OAK PARK AND RIVER AND JOSEPH L. THALMAN, A.M. FORMER HEAD OF BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, OAK PARK AND RIVER CHICAGO NEW YORK ROW, PETERSON AND COMPANY PREFACE The history of the many attempts to fit the different special sciences into the first year of the high school is too well known to require comment. As a result of these experiences, the conviction is becoming general that no one science is adequate for an introductory course. the last few years the effort to present to the pupil subject matter of interest to him, adapted to his stage of mental development, and at the same time of educative value, has resulted in the development of many courses in general science. These courses vary somewhat in the organization of subject matter and in the method of presentation, but all of them are based upon the conviction that the first year of science should be fundamental to all the sciences. In presenting this course we feel that it meets these fundamental requirements, first, in providing a ground work in physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, physiology, and physical geography; and second, that it has stood the test of time. It has been carried through about fifteen years of experimentation in which frequent changes in material as well as eliminations and additions have been made, until it has now become fairly well. established. The course has for its purpose not so much the development of the subject alone as the consideration of that most important factor in teaching, namely, the develop |