This article describes the early history of laboratory lessons for engineering education in both western countries and Japan. In western countries, the beginning of the laboratory lessons in technical colleges was earlier than that in traditional universities. The reason is thought to be due to the support and understanding from industrial business societies. In traditional universities, there was a strong objection to introducing science and engineering educations from religious viewpoints. While, the Japanese Government of early Meiji period was eager in introducing science and engineering educations for the promotion of industry. As a result, the recommendation of performing experiments at school classes became to a movement in the late 1880s. The movement, however, did not last due to various reasons. I discuss the lesson from the history.
