VOL. 3.
No. 8
AN ADVANCEDCOURSE IN HIGHSCHOOL
893
AN ADVANCED CHEMISTRY COURSE IN A HIGH SCHOOL FOSTER,MANUAL TRAINING HIGHSCHOOL, NEW YORKCITY The term "Advanced Chemistry" as here used means a course of instruction in qualitative analysis and industrial processes; this subjectmatter is not usually found in elementary text-books on chemistry. Such a course has been successfully given in the Manual Training High School, Brooklyn, New York, for over ten years. I shall discuss the content and method from the standpoint of experience and conviction rather than give a statistical resume. The time allotted to advanced chemistry is one school year (40 weeks). One term (20 weeks) is devoted to inorganic qualitative analysis; the succeeding term (20 weeks) is devoted to industrial processes. It is the latter which I shall describe. A modern high-school chemistry course must serve two purposes: first, it must give a minority of students a firm foundation for further work in college; second, it must give a large majority of students sufficient chemical information to serve as a useful part of their knowledge equipment for life. I believe that the course in industrial processes adequately serves both objectives. The topics treated are: I. Unit Processes. Crystallization (including the use of solubility curves) Distillation (discussion of ope form of still which includes dephlegmation) * Evaporation (one form of evaporator discussed) Filtration (filter press, leaf filter, continuous filter) Lixiviation Pulverization (jaw crusher, rolls, hall mill, etc.) 11. Inorganic Industries. Glass Nitric Acid (Birkeland-Eyde process) 111. Organic Industries. Gas (coal gas, water gas) Glycerine Leather Paper Soap Sugar IV. Metallurgical Industries. Aluminum (Hall's process) Copper OSCARR.
Iron (pig iron, wrought iron) Lead Silver (Parkes' process) Steel (Bessemer, open-hearth, crucible) As now given the course always includes all the unit processes; however, it cannot include a11 of the industrial processes. Therefore, a selection is made; each term the industries chosen are somewhat different from those of the preceding term. The following selections for the current year are typical: Fall term 1885
Sprlng term 1926
Unit processes Nitric acid
Unit processes Glass Paper Aluminum Leather Crucible steel Soap
Paper
Aluminum Leather Soap Silver
'l'he mode of instruction is quite different from that which is usually employed in secondary schools; i t is a lecture-recitation method. This has proved to be admirably adapted to the course. The instructor describes the process under discussion, and places upon the blackboard sketches and sectional drawings of the apparatus which is used. The chemistry of the process is carefully explained; in addition the strictly mechanical manipulations are dwelt upon. All subject-matter is recorded by each student in a note-hook together with a copy of each of the sketches and drawings mentioned; to this is added dictated matter a t the discretion of the instructor. The note-hooks are given critical examination periodically. During explanations the students ask questions and ample time is allowed for general discussion; voluntary questions are encouraged. As the course progresses these discussions increase in frequency and interest. At the close of the formal discussion of a process the students are quizzed; they are required to reproduce black-board drawings as well as give verbal explanations. As soon as one process has been entirely reviewed the next one is begun. The text-book used is "Outlines of Industrial Chemistry" by Prank H. Thorpe1 from which are assigned lessons to he studied. In the school library are encyclopedias and other reference books; important among these is "Elements of Industrial Chemistry" by Allen Rogers2 The verbal instruction is supplemented by illustrative material. Hand samples of both raw materials and finished products are brought to the class-room; also mounted photographs are passed from hand to hand. A museum for hand specimens is maintained. Suitable material is 1 The Macmillan Co., New York. D. Van Nostrand Co.. New York.
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added from year to year. Samples of raw materials and manufactured products are constantly on exhibition in well-lighted cases which are located in one of the halls. Figure 1 shows one section of the museum cases. Figure 2 is a closer view of three of the shelves. The specimens are
Prc. 1.-Section
oi school muscum.
fastened on thick white cardboard whenever practicable, a convenient and inexpensive mount. After the study of a process has been completed, lantern slides are shown to illustrate factory methods. Several times during the term the class is taken on inspection trips to industrial plants in the city and vicinity. Fortunately the metropolitan
area affords a wide variety of establishments suitable for such trips. During the past few years plants have been visited which produce leather, shoes, glass, clocks, soap, drop forgings, paper, gas, and sugar. The firms engaged in these lines of manufacture have shown a gratifying willingness to extend courtesies to advanced chemistry classes; this arises from a sense
FIG.2.-Closc-up of three shelves.
of public service and a sympathetic attitude toward the work of the schools. Incertainindustries inspectiontrips areregarded as having advertisingvalue. The entire course in advanced chemistry (qualitative analysis and industrial processes) is elective. Therefore a select group of students whose interest is sustained throughout the school year is secured.
