Chemical Education Today
Especially for High School Teachers by Diana S. Mason
Community Relationships
photo by J. J. Jacobsen, E. K. Jacobsen, J. Cunningham
I was fortunate to greet William Carroll, President-Elect of the American Chemical Society, at the CHED High Secondary School Featured Articles School/College Interface Luncheon and to hear him address 䊕 An Interview with Toni Watt, 2004 Conant Award Winner, the TECH Division at the fall 2004 ACS meeting in Philap 1552 delphia. His message reminded me of my high school teach䊕 JCE Classroom Activity: #66. A Magnetic Meal, by JCE ing experience at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas. Editorial Staff, p 1584A The educational objective of 䊕 Teaching Entropy Analysis in the First-Year High School the Jesuits has always been to Course and Beyond, by Thomas H. Bindel, p 1585 form students into “Men for Others”. Of course today it might be more appropriate to address social justice in the about ‘teachers as facilitators’, but in the case of Toni scope of “Men and Women Watt we have an excellent role model of a mentor who for Others”, but the directive makes a difference in her students’ lives. This noble act still applies. Carroll’s call was does not come without sacrifice. She spends her work for individuals to return to Iron filings are collected from a life looking for opportunities for her students and for their ACS Local Sections and cereal/water slurry using a magnetic the funding to go with it. She then gives more of herpilot a program designed to wand. self in the summer when she and her students explore address social justice, using life outside of the classroom—in the industrial and research chemistry as the vehicle. His message was very pro educaworlds. Her passion is to instill her love and curiosity of scition. He suggested many ways that ACS members could get ence in her students. Because of her commitment, the cominvolved in the schools and community, ranging from planmunity, and her passion for science, Watt received the ning science nights to blood drives. distinction of being the 2004 Conant Award Winner, ACS’s Carroll will truly be an “Education President”. In July highest honor for a high school chemistry teacher. he addressed the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) supporting an effort to require students to complete four years of science to graduate from high school on the Recommended Classroom Experiences High School Graduation Plan and the Distinguished AchieveThe latest commentaries on “cookbook” labs can be ment Plan. The Texas SBOE voted 9–6 in favor of the four found on pages 1559–1560 and 1569. As Monteyne and years of science requirement. Students will be required to take Cracolice (p 1559) indicate, it is not the collection of data one unit of biology, two units of physical science (choices of that is at the heart of inquiry, but how the data analysis is integrated physics and chemistry, chemistry, or physics), and conducted. We need to create an environment that allows one option unit allowing for an AP course or the strongly our students the opportunity to develop their thinking skills promoted earth science course. and conceptual understandings. Several articles in this isWe are privileged to have his support and leadership. sue highlight programs that enhance the students’ ability to Texas joins Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, South Dacollect data from virtual labs (p 1672) and evaluate the stukota, and Virginia with its high expectation of science litdents’ use of analytical volume-measuring devices (p 1641). eracy for a diverse citizenry. Now appears to be the right time Ideas for bringing chemistry into the classroom are to move forward with this program across the country. If all many. For an excellent lesson plan on teaching entropy goes well with the implementation of this graduation plan, analysis see pp 1585–1594. Others contribute their visions chemistry virtually becomes a required course of study for on teaching chemistry using real world materials, like iron all students in Texas beginning with the entering freshman in breakfast cereal (p 1544, pp 1584A–1584B), research adclass of 2007–2008. The precedent has been set. Let’s take vances on herbicides (p 1546), differences in color between this momentum across the country. Thank you, Bill Carroll! marbles and ground marbles (p 1607), operating electrochemical circuits using various solutions (p 1620), and usGifted with Conscience ing a computer mouse to measure viscoelastic deformations (p 1628). For a review of Chemistry: A Project of the AmeriOn pp 1552–1558 read about a fascinating woman who can Chemical Society see p 1572. The efforts of teachers of practices this mission of community service daily. Toni Watt’s chemistry can be seen down many avenues. Use these ideas approach is the mirror image of Carroll’s call. Every summer as your vehicle to explore new vistas. she brings her students into the community. We hear a lot
www.JCE.DivCHED.org
•
Vol. 81 No. 11 November 2004
•
Journal of Chemical Education
1545
