A CHEMISTRY TEACHERS' SERVICE BUREAU
The number of texts, workbooks, handbooks, slides, films, charts, exhibits, and other materials of value in the teaching of chemistry has increased enormously during the past few years. Since teachers cannot hope to secure every item for examination and evaluatian, a plan is described whereby the teachers' college assembles all useful items and assists the teacher i n selecting those which fit his &articular needs.
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During the past decade, great changes have been made in the teaching of high-school chemistry. Much new subject matter has been introduced and new types of texts and laboratory manuals have been prepared; new types of apparatus, new types of laboratory furniture, new visual aids of all kinds have appeared and projection apparatus has come to be considered as regular equipment. In a dozen different ways, the new is pressing against the old in chemistry teaching. The average teacher, hard-worked in carrying a heavy teaching load, finds i t next to impossible to examine, evaluate intelligently, and choose the text, the apparatus, the projection material, or the other equipment which best suits his particular situation. To assist the teacher, bewildered by the many things offered, teachertraining institutions have begun to develop field service. As this service is a comparatively new feature in teachers'colleges, much experimenting has been necessary in order to learn how to render, a t the least cost, that service which is most needed. For several years the chemistry department of the State Teachers' College a t Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been experimenting in an attempt to determine how best to give this type of service to chemistry teachers in the various high schools of the state. During the past three years, a special effort has been made to develop a regular hureau of teacher service in the chemistry department. For the beneiit of other schools, which prepare secondary-school teachers, a description of this bureau as it is now being developed is given, with the thought that this may serve as a point of departure for the development of something better in this field. General Description In a set of special shelves, set aside in the departmental library are a large number of high-school chemistry texts, laboratory manuals, teachers' handbooks, apparatus and chemical catalogs, special pieces of apparatus, and illustrative materials of all kinds. Many other materials of interest to high-school chemistry teachers have been assembled. It is intended that the best devices, courses of study, charts, pamphlets, books, or any 1255
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other items that have exceptional value in teaching high-school chemistry shall be represented; that these materials shall he available to any highschool teacher who wishes to visit our school to examine them. A chemistry teacher will sometimes spend an entire day examining these materials and making notes for future purchases. Many of the materials may be loaned for a short period of time to teachers in the field. Teachers may also write to the department and secure information regarding any of the matuials in the bureau. (Stamped return envelope should be enclosed.) A more complete description of the materials follows. Texts and Laboratory Manuals The latest revisions of twenty widely used high-school chemistry texts, together with accompanying laboratory manuals or work hooks have been assembled. The visiting high-school teachei may not only examine these books, but may also find, in each, clippings of many of the reviews, and other data which would help him t o evaluate it. In addition, the reports of committees of chemistry teachers from various cities in the United States and from many individual teachers as to the advantages and disadvantages of each of the various texts may be seen. In some cases these committee reports recommend certain texts for use in a particular type of school or locality. Information as to the extent and locale of use of each of the texts is also available. Score cards for textbook evaluation for various types of communities have been assembled. A complete analysis of the twenty texts has .been made by the department. This gives specific information about each text, showing: number of pages; number of illustrations; total square inches of illustrations; number of charts, graphs, and tables; number of "yes" or "no" questions; number of numerical problems; number of equations; errors in statement of fact, omissions, strong features, and many other important facts. The teacher may use these and may also have the advice and assistance of the instructors in the department when using its facilities in selecting a text. The Chemistry Teacher's Private Library This consists of what is considered to be the better teachers' handbooks, teachers' manuals, syllabi of high-school chemistry courses, and a number of other materials which deal with problems in the teaching of chemistry or which will aid in teaching chemistry. Here the teacher may examine books dealing with the chemical lecture experiments; here he may study at first hand review books, hooks of chemical equations, new-type questions, books of problems, questions, and equations, syllabi of all available state courses of study, and many other similar materials. In addition, a number of books dealing with the teaching of science and especially with the teaching of chemistry have been
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assembled. These books have been carefully selected and represent what are believed to be the very best in their field. When a new book is produced, it is examined and if found better, it replaces a book already in this list. In this group of books are included chemistry and physics bandbooks, a few representative college texts in general chemistry, chemical dictionaries, books dealing with the theory and practice of secondary education, the place and purpose of the high school, and many monographs reporting research relating to subject matter, administration, and laboratory teaching in high-school chemistry. Several books and lists relating to enriched teaching of science in the high school are also to be found. This group of materials represents what is believed to be the best available books for a teacher's personal library.
A High-School Reference Library in Chemistry An "ideal" high-school chemistry library has been assembled. This consists of a nucleus made up of a list of books which can be purchased for $100; a more extensive list is prepared for those who have an additional $100; and a still more extensive list for those who have a third $100. The books have been listed according to the following types: 1. Popular books on chemistry, such as the nine books of The Chemical Foundation, Inc., "The Making of Chemistry," by Harrow, "Chemistry in the World's Work," by Howe, "Foundations of the Universe," by Luckiesh, "Chemistry in Modern Life," by Arrhenius, etc. 2 . Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Handbooks, such as "Chemical Encyclopedia," by Kingzeit, "Chemical Dictionary," by Hackh, "Chemistry and Physics Terminology," by Frank and White, etc. 3. Books on the History of Chemistry,suchas "The History of Chemistry," by Venable, "Historical Introduction to Chemistry," by Imwry, "Old Chemistries," by Smith, "History of Chemistry," by Moore, etc. 4. Chemistry Texts and Books on applications of chemistry. Eight of the twenty high-school texts described in the list of texts are included in this library. Eight recently written or revised college texts in general chemistry are also included. Three good texts dealing with qualitative analysis, three texts dealing with organic chemstry, three good references on quantitative analysis, two physical chemistry texts, and books on chemical engineering complete the list. 5 . Periodicals. There have been assembled current numbers of thirtyfive different periodicals which have been found to be of value in the teaching of chemistry. Many of these periodicals may be obtained free of charge. Some of the best.of them have to be purchased. In some cases, complete files of the periodicals are available. A mimeographed sheet giving a description of each periodical, together with its cost and advice as to its usefulness, has been prepared for the teacher.
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6. Bibliographies. A number of bibliographies of research reports of interest to the saence teacher have been assembled. A digest of information as to the content and usefulness of each is provided. Apparatus Exhibit The inexperienced teacher, and even the experienced teacher, frequently has great difficulty in selecting a certain piece of apparatus where a great variety of types and sizes are offered. One single catalog offers more than fifty different kinds of thermometers. For the average teacher to make the wisest and most profitable choice of these thermometers would require several hours of study. The thermometer is only one of many cases of this kind. The average teacher needs much advice and assistance in selecting apparatus and supplies best fitted for his use. In a special set of apparatus cases have been assembled pieces of apparatus of each of the more widely used types where a great number of sizes and shapes are in common use in high-school chemistry, as follows: A thermometer of each of the common types; a Bunsen burner of each of the common types; rubber t u b i g of the common types and sizes; glass tubing of the common types and sizes; test-tube brushes of various types; four types of balances for high-school use; combustion boats of various types; combustion tubing of various types; rubber stoppersall types and sizes; beakers of all common sizes, shapes, and materials; filter paper of various kinds; etc. With each is a card indicating'the department's recommendation of its value and how and where best used. The strong and weak points of each are carefully tabulated. Recommendations are made as to sizes of rubber stoppers, glass tubing, test tubes, flasks, rubber tubing, etc., so that the various pieces of apparatus fit and so that the number of different sizes and types may be kept a t a minimum. Apparatus Lists Recommended lists of apparatus prepared by the state departments, committees, textbook writers, supply houses, and others have been made available for the teacher who wants to purchase apparatus. In addition, lists of apparatus for the demonstration desk and suggestions regarding suitable demonstrations have been prepared.
Tests All available tests have been collected for examination. Prices and place of purchase of each are given. In addition, all available information as to the usefulness of the various tests has been assembled in easily accessible form for the teacher.
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Industrial Materials Several hundred pamphlets, books, and bulletins from industrial concerns have been assembled for examination by teachers. A large number of industrial exhibits are also shown in a special cabinet. All these have high teaching value and may he obtained by teachers who wish to use them. Slides, Filmslides, Pictures, and Charts More than two hundred slides for use in the teaching of chemistry, a number of filmslides, hundreds of pictures having teaching value and many charts, maps, etc., useful in the teaching of chemistry may also he examined by visiting teachers. From the interest shown by chemistry teachers who visit the service bureau and their expressed appreciation of the assistance given, the writers have been encouraged to give this brief description, to study further the possibilities in the plan, and to ask the assistance and advice of others who have attempted something of this kind in other schools.
