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Recent Books
The Nature and Meaning of Teaching. Enriched Teaching of Science in the High School. M. N. WOODRING, Associate R n w n H. STREBEL,Asst Prof. of Education, and G R O ~ R C. MOREHART, Professor of Education, Teachers' ColAswc. Prof. of Education. Teachers' College. . Columbia University: . . M. E. lege, Syracuse University. McGraw; OAKBS,Assistant in Natural Sciences, Hill Rook Company, Inc., New York Teachers' College, ColumbiaUniversity; H. E. BROWN, Teacher of Science, Lin273 pp. 20 figures. City, 1929. nix 20.5 X 14 cm. $2.50. coln School, Teachers' College, Columbia University. Bureau of Publications, Primarily this is a text on "general Teachers' College, Columbia University, methodsM-those methods that apply al374 pp. New York City, 1928. xi ways in the management of pupils and in 23 X 15.5 em. $2.75. the teaching of all subjects. I n the pref~
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ace we read: "The sole purpose in writing this volume has been to attack the problem of the technic of teaching from a different point of view from any extant." The newness in the point of view (strange as this may seem t o scientists) lies in the fact that the authors present their suggestions as t o the teaching practice in terms of educational philosophy and educational psychology. They feel that students of education should not only be told what t o do but why, in order that they may be able t o adapt procedure to varying conditions. The text opens with a chapter on the development of educational philosophy from the time of Sonates. Then follows a second chapter on modern aims and objectives in education, with a third chapter on educational psychology and Thorndike's "Laws of Learning." After this comes the discussion of teaching problems and practices with constant use and application of the principles laid down in the olmening chapters. The result is a synthesis of educational philosophy, psychology, and practice, in a unified, fundamental, beginning course. The title "General Education" would not he an inappropriate one for such a course or for the text that is being reviewed. JOANW. RITCRIB F4s.naoro~.New lBRs*Y
The authors of this hook offer t o teachers of science sources of supplies from which they can enrich their teaching and promote interest in their work. Their intention is t o list material that can be ohtained free or a t a low price, or that has real value a t the quoted prices. Many of the articles that can be ohtained free from manufacturers partake of the'nature of advertising, so the teacher is warned,that he must be the judge of its worth and also of the correctness of the advertising. The authors state, however, that they have examined, or had others examine, the materials listed and have endeavored t o cull out that which had little or no value. The work is intended far teachers of general science, biology, physics, and chemistry. Chemistry has received its full share of attention. The materials are arranged under sixteen different headings, which include: models, samples, exhibits, pictures, posters, charts, lantern slides, motion pictures, equipment, supplies, lectures, catalogs, plays, clubs, projects, excursions, careers, schools, travel, camps, professional associations, tests, vocahularies, elementary science, pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, and books. Under these headings there are two or three thousand separate items. Since this book is the first of its kind on
the market and covers such a vast array of material, science teachers will find i t valuable. It will be particularly useful to teachers in the smaller schools where there is little manufacturing and where the schwl equipment is poor for science work. A source of good material, not listed by the authors, is scientific articles in the nonprofessional magazines. Much time is wasted in reading articles having little value t o science teachers, although perhaps written by college professors.' Possibly ten or fifteen articles of exceptionally high rank appear in these general magazines each year. A listing of these articles. culled to the limit, five or more years back would be appreciated by teachers having no access to good libraries or by others who do not wish to search the large numher of periodicals for the few good articles. The authors have done a commendable work in compiling the information in this book. I n the hands of any teacher, it should enrich the courses in high-school science. DON C. EVANS PIRECOUNTYHIOHSCHOOL. L~YINOSTON, MONTAN*
been brought together in a single volume. It is beautifully arranged and illustrated. A splendid artistic touch is given by the inclusion, after the title page, of two pages of written Chinese-a section from Pao Pu TZ; (written by KO Hung, 281361 A.D.)-"Many do not even know that mercury comes out of cinnabar (tan sha). When told, they still refuse to helieve it, saying that cinnabar is red, and how can i t produce a white substance? They also say that cinnabar is a stonthat stones when heated turn to ashes; and how then can anything else he expected of tan sha." (trans. Edkins). This quotation, from one of the oldest treatises on alchemy, gives us a perfect suggestion of the mystery of chemistry and of that quality in the history of chemistry which makes its study so fascinating to those who are devoted t o it. My thanks are due to Mr. Lu-Ch'iang Wu, graduate student a t the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for translating the chapter headings and the section of PSO PU TzG. L. DAVIS TENNEY '
MASSAEBUSBTTS INSTlTUTB 0. CalaaxlocB, MASS.
T~CHNOLOCI,
4 History of Recent Chemistry (in the Japanese language). R o ~ u n oNAKA- Modeme Methoden der Kohlenvemertung. Ferngas and KohleverAiissigung. ssxo. Kaniya Book Store, Kyoto. 561 (Modem Methods of the Utilization of 1927. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. iii pp. 16 photogravure portraits. 6 Coal. "Fern gas" and Liquefaction of ProCoal.) HERMANNGROSSMIINN, yen. fessor in the University of Berlin. This is a companion volume t o Professor Polytechnische Buchhandlung. A. SeyNakaseko's "History of World Chemistry" del, Berlin, 1928. 16 pp. 1 fig. 15 [see THIS JOURNAL, 6, 184 (Jan., 1929)l X 22 cm. 1mark. and consists of a further detailed account
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of the history of such special subjects as the chemistry of the life processes, proteins and fats, the fixation of nitrogen, the electric furnace, organic synthesis, catalysis, chemical warfare, explosives, silk and artificial silk, photography, dyestuffs, pharmaceutical chemistry, immunity, the rare elements which are present in living organisms, etc. The discussions in each case are excellent and take account of the latest developments. The book contains much material which has not heretofore
The pamphlet is a reprint of two speeches broadcast by the author on the 18th and 25th of November, 1927. The first speech deals with "Fern gas." This is waste coke oven gas which is piped from the large reserves of the Ruhr plants to distant communities and center of industries in Germany. The following pipe lines are planned: (1) Bremen, Hamburg, Liiheck, Kid; (2) Hanover, Magdehurg, Berlin, Stettin; (3) Kasel, through Thuringia, Saxonia, Sileia; (4) along the
