If an instructor in mathematics were required to teach his poorly instructed class the following semester in mechanics he would improve as a teacher of mathematics. This lack of coordination is marked in small colleges where there is an engineering course newly established and the professor of engineering must rely upon the other older established departments to train his students in the fundamentals. It is also a fault in some large schools.
Physics, of which mechanics is a branch, is a most important subject and chemistry is becoming daily Of more importance as a part Of the knowledge an engineer must possess. The engineer deals with materials and a proper study cannot be made of materials without thorough grounding in physics and chemistry.
Every engineer must know how to lay out work and make surveys through strange countries. This requires a knowledge of surveying and exploratory surveying presupposes a knowledge of astronomy, which is, therefore, a part of the curriculum of all engineering schools. Sometimes it is taught as astronomy and sometimes it is a part of the course in surveying, enough of astronomy being given to determine latitude, longitude and time.
A knowledge of geology is necessary to enable the engineer to extract metals and ores from the earth, form his excavations and embankments
