Discussion: Concerns in High School Chemistry Teaching Rapporteur: J. S. Schrnuckler, Temple University
This informal discussion involving high school and college teaching centered on resolutions made at the Mt. Holyoke Conference (see J. CHEM. EDUC., 50, 12 (1973)). Several participants reported on activities relevant to these resolutions that have been occurring a t their respective schools. The need for better communication of useful activities was soon apparent. It was noted that the staff of the Journal of Chemical Education is sensitive to this need and wishes to publish more of interest to high school. teachers. Contributions should be sent to J. Dudley Herron (Purdue University). Chem. 13 News, edited by Reg Ftiesen Wniuersity of Waterloo) was also suggested as a useful communication vehicle. Chemistrv continues to contain much of value to chemistry teachers: The Chem Ed 1975 Waterloo Conference in August will again help fill . needs for high school chemistry teaching. In seeking observable trends in high school chemistry teaching today the group noted several movements and directions. With greater stabilization of teaching personnel there seems to he greater emphasis on development of i usually curricular material suiting student needs. This B within s c h ~ o systems l and directed toward perceived local needs. The nros and cons of national examinatioils in chemistry were discussed. The results of a testing program in the Pittsburgh area were mentioned and a participant suggested that there would probably soon be a nationally administered scholarship award for hieh school chemistry students. Other features relevant to secondary teaching that were
mentioned included the industrial-high school interface, the math and reading skills of chemistry students and the Piagetian stages of intellectual development as referred to by Beistal, p. 6. The session was closed with a call for high school teachers to accept the responsibility to inform college teachers what is going on at the secondary level and what they see' as needs. Greater sensitivity to the need to send appropriate material to the aforementioned journals was also encouraged.
Volume 52, Number 1, January 1975
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