The Complete Scientist (Oxford University Press; 18s.; paper 12s. 6d.) contains the report of a group of educationists, under the chairmanship of the Rector of Imperial College, to the British Association. Its purpose is to suggest means of overcoming the acknowledged narrowness of general culture of the professional scientists and technologists now being turned out by our universities. Though based on a comparatively small survey of selected schools and universities, the conclusions reached compel attention by their reasonableness, and the firmness with which they are pressed; they ought to be carefully considered by everyone with a concern for higher education in this country.

In broad outline, the conclusions are conservative: there is to be no radical change in the type of education we provide, but the main weaknesses have got to be cured. With one exception, members of the Group wished to maintain the educational system in which specialization begins with the sixth form at school and continues through a three-year university course: the continental and Scottish systems are not recommended. The basic change must be at the school level, though it will reflect itself higher up. In the sixth form, the specialist in science ought to spend twice as much time on non-scientific pursuits as he now does: some twelve periods a week instead of the present average of six, with, of course, consequent reduction in die time given to science. Below the sixth, the present time-table is regarded as satisfactory.