THE INDIANAPOLIS MEETING Report of the Secretary of the Division of Chemical Education General The Division of Chemical Education held a most successful program a t the 81st meeting of the American Chemical Society. There were but few deviations from the schedule as announced in the April issue of THISJOURNAL (Vol. 8, pp. 251-3). Three half-day sessions were devoted to the reading of twenty-two papers, most of which will appear in full in the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION. Attendance figures rarely fell below 150 and reached 300 a t the Symposium when five invited speakers discussed the problems of "Cooperation between Industry and Chemical Education." One hundred eighty members and guests attended the Division luncheon* a t the Columbia Club Tuesday noon, a t the close of which CHAIRWAN J O H N N. SWAN introduced MOSESG OMRERG , President of the A. C. S.; L. V. REDMAN, President-Elect; H. E. HOWE,Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry; NEIL E. GORDON, Editor of the JOURNAL OF CHEMIC A L E DUCATION ; P AULINE BEERY M ACK , Editor of The Chemistry Leaflet; RUSSELL WILLSON, President of the Indianapolis School Board; and WM. M. BLANCHARD, Dean and Head of the Chemistry Department of DePauw University. Each speaker paid tribute to the teaching profession and proclaimed his interest and faith in the cause of chemical education. Thursday, one hundred fifty members of the Division took the all-day trip by bus to Bloomington, as guests of Indiana University and the Limestone Association. After visiting a large limestone quarry and mill in the morning the entire group attended a luncheon a t the university and then participated in the exercises dedicating Indiana University's new chemistry building. Those who made the trip voiced their sincere appreciation to DR. R. E. LYONS, head of the department a t I. U. for a most memorable day. Further details of the dedication program will he found elsewhere in this issue (see p. 1217). The meeting and dinner of the editors of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION and The Chemistry Leaflet was unusually well attended, the following being present: NEIL E. GORDON, Editoy-is-Chief; OTTO REINMUTH, Associate Editor; PAULINE B. MACK, Associate Editor; Ross A. BAKER, LYMAN C. NEWELL, and WEHELMSEGERBLOM, Depavtmental Editors; G. A. ABBOTT, BEN H. BALL, H. W. BRUBAKER, A. J. C~RRIER, B. S. HOPXINS, T. D. KBLSEY, T. R. LEIGH (representing A. P. BLACK), R. N. MAXSON,W. F. Rum, J. N. SWAN, A. P. SY, and G. H. WHITEF~RD. Contributing Editors.
With the Editor-in-Chief of THIS J O U R N A L in the rBle of chairman, there was an informal hut brief and business-like discussion of a number of questions relating to editorial policies, types of articles desirable for " See page 1219 for picture. 1190
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publication, sources of i l l u s t r a t i v e material, etc. D i n n e r followed the business meeting. A rising vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Buffum as host of the occasion and Dr. Baker was instructed to convey to him the regrets of the editors that he was unable to be present in person. About fifteen "foreign" students t o o k advantage of the i n v i t a t i o n of the Butler University living centers t o be h o u s e d as guests d u r i n g the meeting. T w o high schools responded to the i n v i t a t i o n of the D i v i s i o n to e x h i b i t some of the work of t h e i r c h e m i s t r y classes. These w e r e Shortridge High School and Arsenal Technical Schools, both of Indianapolis. In o r d e r t o make a v a i l a b l e more time f o r the reading of papers, the Executive C o m m i t t e e held several m e e t i n g s and transacted m o s t of the r o u t i n e business w h i c h had accumulated.
Minutes of the Meetings of the Executive Committee Present: J . N. SWAN, Chairman; M. V. McGnL, Vice-Chairman; R. A. BAKHR, Secretary; ROSALIE M. PARR, Treasww; WILHELMSEGERBLOM and B. S. HOPKINS, Past Cheirmen; and NEIL E . GORDON, Editor-in-Chief. R s ~ o n r OF s OPP~CERS 1. Chairman: The Chairman presented a brief report which dealt c h i d y with committee appointments, each of which has been recorded in the JOURNAL OB CHEMICAL ED~CATION. The report was accepted. 2. Secretary: The Secretary reported that there are now 476 active members and 710 associate members. Questions upon which the Executive Committee has voted by letter ballot since the mid-winter meeting have been decided as follows. (1)I t was voted to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Division by a special program a t the Buffalo meeting. Accordingly, the Division of History of Chemistry has been invited to join in the symposium on "The History of Chemical Education in America" in honor of Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith, who was instrumental in founding each of the Divisions concerned. A joint committee consisting of L. C. Newell and R. A. Baker was appointed t o arrange the special program for the Buffalo meeting. (2) The committee rccammends that either the Associate Editor or the Assistant Editor of the T O ~ N A L OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION he sent to meetinm of the A. C. S. (3) I t was voted t o grant the Committee on Chemical Education by Radio up to $100.00 during the year 1931. (4) I t was voted t o request B. S. Hopkins t o represent the Division of Chemical Education on the program of the Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers, February 28. The report was approved. 3. Local Secretary: The Local Secretary reported that he had invited 102 secondary-school teachers t o he the guests of the Division a t the luncheon and that he had received about 40 acceptances. He also reported that 15 students were to be housed in fraternity centers a t Butler College without charge. He acknowledged his particular debt to Mr. Walter Geisler of Shortridge High School for making the arrangements, and to the Alpha Chi Sigma Committee for taking care of the registration a t headquarters. He also reported upon the local program, the trip t o Indiana University, and other features. The report was accepted. 4. Treasurer: The Treasurer presented a report of monies received and expended since January 1. The report was accepted.
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JUNE. 1931
5. Business Manager: The Secretary presented a detailed report from the Business Manager, covering the JOURNAL oa CHEMICAL EDUCATION and The Chemistvy LeafEet and showing an encouraging condition of both. The audit of the Business Manager'sreport for 1930 was approved and appears elsewhere in this issue (see pp. 1197-9). 0. Editor-in-Chief: The Editor-in-Chief presented a progresc rcport, which was accepted. REroRTs O P COMMITTEES
Chairmen, reported 1. Naming and Scope of Committees: WILHELM SEGERBLOM. a t length upon six problems which were referred t o his committee by the Executive Committee a t its mid-winter meeting. [See J. CHEM. EDUC.,8, 753 (Apr., 1931).] His recommendations were approved as follows: (a) That the problem of a correspondence course for high-school chemistry teachers be referred t o the present committee on Preparation of High-School Chemistry Teachers. ( b ) That a committee he appointed by the chairman on Minimum Standards, with J. N. SWANas chairman. (See Secretary's Note below.) (6) That the problem of vocational guidance be referred to M. V. MCGILL,who is making a professional study of this phase of education, with a view t o forming a committee on Vocational Guidance. (d) and (e) That i t is inexpedient for the Division of Chemical Education t o promote a t the present time the training of youth of pre-high-school age in chemistry, encept in so far as museums are concerned, and that the museums' part of the problem be referred to the committee on Visual Aids in Chemical Education. (j)That a committee be appointed by the chairman on Optimum Size of Chemistry Classes. (See Secretary's Note below.)
2. Visual Aids in Chemical Education: M. V. MCGILL,Chairman, presented a progress report which was accepted. It was voted to accept his recommendation that two additional members be appointed to this committee. Chairman. 3. Chemical Education of the Non-Collegiate Type: R. E. BOWMAN. transmitted a progress report by letter, which was accepted. This committee expects to present a formal report a t the Buffalo meeting. Chairman, transmitter1 4. Chemical Education by Radio: R OBERT F. MCCRACKAN, the following report which was accepted. Education by radio continues in the experimental stage with chemistry holding its own as compared with other sciences broadcast. Many of the weaker stations now have excellent educational programs with liberal provision far chemical subjects, and numerous chemists devote much time t o the preparation of suitable talks. The chemistry departments of about one-third of the better schools of the nation have had some part in radio programs in recent years, and more than three-fourths of the heads of drpartments think radio talks on chemistry worthwhile. The problem of getting chemistry on the programs of the larger stations and chain systems presents many difficulties, and is naturally tied up with the larger problem of general education by radio. Advertisers pay well for all except the most undesirable hours, and most radio audiences seek entertainment, rather than education, when they tune in. The Federal Radio Commission has done its best to give us as many stations as can be operated without interference, and to allow as much time and power as pos-
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sible, but they cannot a t present relieve matters. Speakers are encawaged t o talk very fast to save time, and t o put subject matter on the plane of the thirteen-year-old t o hold the audience. Interest the past year in education by radio has been very gratifying. For the first time in the history of American education the leaders in educational broadcasting gathered last June a t The Ohio State University for a tcn-day Institute of Radio Education. Forty-nine papers were read and printed. At the Milwaukee meetina in December of the National council of State Superintendents and Commissioners o/ Education with the United States Office of Education seven papers dealing with education by radio were read. Your committee is taking keen interest in studying these fifty-six papers and in watching the progress of events. With television in the offing promising visual aid t o the ear, and with scientists hinting that hitherto unused wave lengths may be made available for radio purposes, whiie inventors are working t o give us synchronized and super-powered stations, and with an awakening sense of duty in our lawmakers t o reserve a reasonable time on programsfor educational subjects, we think we have reason to be optimistic. 5. Chemistry Libraries: R m u s D. REED, Chairman, presented a progress report by letter, which was accepted. 6. Correlation of High-School and College Chemistry: NEIL E. GORDON, Chairm m , presented a progress report, which was accepted. 7. Labels: JOHN M. MICHENER, Chairman, presented by letter the following report, which was accepted. The committee has received some &ticisms of the list which was published as a part of our preliminary report. Some of these suggestions have been referred to E. J. CRANE of the committee on Nomenclature. As soon as his reply is received we shall make up a final list and then submit i t t o the two companies which desire t o publish new editions of label books soon. The reprints of the preliminary report have been sent out t o all the laboratory supply companies, also t o all teachers of chemistty in high schools that are listed in the . CHEMICAL EDUCATION. The Division directories given in each issue of the J o u n ~ l u OF Secretary mailed copies directly to all members of the Senate. 8. Minimum Equipment for High-School Chemistry: J. H. JENSeN. Chairman, presented a progress report by letter, which was accepted. This committee is now compiling returns from its recent questionnaire and expects t o have detinite recommendations concerning . the list of chemicals before the close of the school year. The revised list will be submitted to the Division for consideration in the near future. Chemistry Teachers: I n the absence of the chair9. Preparation of High-School . man, a member of the committee, H E N X E ~ HAYDEN, A presented the following report, which was accepted. The fourth report of the Committee was presented as a part of the Symposium on "The Qualifications of Chemistry Teachers," a t the Cincinnati meeting of the American Chemical Society. I t contains a rkum6 of the previous work of the Committee, and suggestions for improving the general situation. Two hundred copies of a reprint of this report [I. CHEM.EDIJC.,8, 102-6 (Jan., 1931)j were secured and sent t o responsible individuals distributed approximately as fallows: secretaries of local sections of A. C. S. (30), state directors of public instruction (48), presidents of state teachers' colleges (Pa.) ( 1 0 , officials of accrediting agencies (13). other officials (5). The following letter was addressed t o secretaries of Local Sections of the A. C. S.: ~
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JUNE, 1931
The following letter was addressed t o Directors of State Departments of Public Instruction: Eneloncd herewith is a report of the Committee on Preparation of HighSehool Chemistry Tcaehen. This report war a psit of the Sympooium on "Qualifications of Chemistry Teacherr" held a t the September meeting of the American Chemical Sodety at Cindonati, Ohm The preparation of the highochool science teacher is a problem that deserver very careful 3tudy. and this committee has endeavored to make a clear unhiaeed anatyaiaof the problem. The Diviaon of Chemical Education oi the American Chemical Society voted at the September meeting to sive npedli emphasis to the work of this committee. We are t h e d o r e sending copies of the report to the secretarier of the local sections of the American Chemical Society (about 80) rn well as to the accrediting agencies and t o the state departments of.Public Inetruction. I t is our hope that the report wx!l receive yovr rermus consideration and that i t may help in improving the status of secondary reience feachiog throughout the country.
At the present writing, several replies of an encouraging nature have been received. The facts are now in the hands of the officials who have the authority to formulate the policies and regulations pertaining t o the certification of chemistry teachers. The Committee feels that i t has done about all that can he done along these lines. Whether or not any improvement is t o be accomplished will depend, in large measure, upon the endorsement and "backing" of the secretaries of the local sections of the American Chemical Society. Their iduence and encauranement are most urnenth . . needed. The method of procedure is indicated in the letter included above. 10. Teacher Exchange: B. S. H O P ~ N SChairman, , presented a -promess report which was accepted. 11. Teaching Load: J. E. MILLS, Chairman, presented by letter a progress report which was accepted. HALE, Chairman, presented by letter 12. Women's Club Study Course: HARRIMN the following report which was approved. Your committee on the Women's Cluh Study Course wishes to report that i t has done all in its power during the past year t o secure the adoption of this course by women's cluhs. These d o r t s have been to some extent successful, but for an unknown reasan the cluhs taking the course have been only in Arkansas and in the neighboring states. Appreciation of the ever-present help of The Chemical Foundation is expressed. The offer of the Women's Service Committee, A. C. S., to assist in this work is highly appreciated. This work will be discussed a t the women's luncheon a t Indianapolis, April 1. The help given by this group of women will be of the greatest value. Most women's clubs begin a course of study in the fall, the subject for this course having been chosen during the spring. Hence, this is the most effective time t o have this matter brought t o the attention of the clubs concerned. Your Committee will greatly appreciate aid from any member of this Division which can be given toward its efforts to secure on the part of this group of influential women a recognition of the fundamental importance of chemistry in the life of America. 13. Special Committee on Journal Files: J. N. SWAN, Chairman, reported that he had reviewed twenty-one filing cases of accumulated correspondence relative to the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION and had succeeded in reducing it t o about onetwentieth of its original volume. He found interesting data covering the history of the Division and as a result of his survey made several significant suggestions regarding future policies of the Division. NEW BUSINESS
1. The tentative program far the Buffalo meeting was approved. Eouc., 8,991 (May, 1931) and pp. 1215-6 of this issue.1
[See J. CHEM.
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T H E INDIANAPOLIS MEETING
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2. I t was voted t o approve the selection of HOVTC. GRAHAM, of State Teachers' College, Silver City, N. M., as a member of the Senate of Chemical Education. 3. I t was voted t o direct the chairman to appoint an auditing committee of two members to audit the books of the Division or to select some agcnt to do so. 4. I t was voted that the subscription lists of the J OURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCA~ r and o The ~ Chemistry Leaflet should not be made available to advertisers. 5. A special committee consisting of M. V. McGrr.~and the Secretary was appointed t o select the best high-school exhibit a t the Indianapolis meeting. (NOTE: The prize of $10.00 has been awarded the Arsenal Technical Schools of Indianapolis.) 6. The proposed contract far the publication of THIS JOURNAL and the Leaflet was approved as fallows: (a) The Chemical Foundation is to continue the entire business management of the TOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION and The Chemistry . Leaflet . until June 1. 1932. is to bc in the hands of the Division exclusively. (bi The editorial ~ o l i c y o s CHEMICAL EDUCATION is to be published twelve times a (6) The JOURNAL Year and the Leaflet a t least thirty-four times a year. ( d ) All revenuer from advertising, subscription, etc., are to he used to defray thecost of publishing the J OURNAL and Leafld. ( e ) There shall be no deficit for the Division in connection with the JouRNAr. or Leajet a t any time during the period of the agreement. 7. The Secretary was instructed to write all Local Sections of the A. C. S. and all Associations of Sciencc Teachers not now represented in the Senate of Chemical Education, describing the organization and functions of the Senate as well as thc obligations of the groups represented therein, and asking if they would be interested in such representation. Geographical overlapping is not considered serious. Appropriations for committee work were approved as fallows: (a) Naming and Scope of Committees-$25.00; (b) Labels-$10.00; (c) Minimum Equipment-$1500. Meeting of the Senate of Chemical Education Prcrcn!: Ex Oficiir-Ions N . S WAN. Chnirmon. M. V. MCGILL.R. A. R ~ a p a ,Alobomn-Joan R. Samau. Arkanxas-H~nnrsolr HALE Colorado-G H. Warresonn. Canncclrcul-C. R. Hopvaa (Proxy for G. A. H ILL ), Ddou,orr-A. hi. Z a c m r ~ .Dislricl of Coiumbio-C::m L. C o n e . Nartdo~owrrnsR. L E ~ (Proxy X for V. T. JACKSOX), I l l i n o i c ~ E. . G a s s ~ n ~ s Illinois-Jom ~o. C. Nsss ~ s nIndiona-1:a~~n B. WAD%M. G. MELLON,KCTIIOS-JOAN M. MICBFNB., KCI~UC~Y-MARIB B ~ & ~ S J. , S. Preacn, Ma~ylond-N. E. Goaoorr, E. EUMETRvm. Mirkignn-0. E. MADISON, Mirrouri-CaAs W. C n ~ oL,. M c h l a s r ~ n Ndrasko-Roue. , N. LBROV (Proxy for B. C. HENDRICXI). NEW Haniprhirc-Wmmm Sec~ns~oar, North Dokola-G. A. ABBOTT, 0h10-ROY I. GRAUY (Proxy for W. H. CXAPIN).W. C . c ~ s c ~ o rObiolioma-0. s. M. Sanrx. Rhodc Iriond-N. W. R m E s m A W , u~a'ar*virginin-Fnra~o E. cr.nnlr 7%- following committee members were present by invitation: Roaanr P. MCCRACKAN. HBNRIsrr~Haunrrr.Am* M. DOYLB.
The Secretary reported upon the Senate letter ballot of March 13, having distributed in mimeographed form the replies received to date. C O M M I ~ ZREEPORTS Mimeographed copies of reports were distributed and, in the absence of committee members, read by the Secretary. (Sce under Executive Committee Minutes.) The following committees were represented by either their respective chairman or committee members: (1) Naming and Scope; (2) Correlation; (3) Labels; (4) Preparation of HighSchool Teachers; (5) Radio; (6) Visual Education; (7) Women's Club. These reports aroused spirited discussion and many helpful suggestions were received.
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JUNE,
1931
NEW BUSINESS The Senate voted t o refer to the committee on Naming and Scope of Committees the question of appointing a committee t o study the Chemistry Requirements in Preprofessional Courses. The Senate voted to invite members of standing committees t o attend its meetingr. Business Meeting of the Division
5.00 P.X. April 1 J. N. SWAN. presiding 1. The Secretary described the tentative plans for the BuRalo meeting. 2. It was the sense of the meeting that the value of the Division program had been considerably increased by adhering strictly to the time schedule. 3. The Editor-in-Chief was requested t o publish in color the periodic chart which accompanied the paper read ar #XIby R. H. LEROY. 4. I t was voted t o express the appreciation and thanks of the Division to (a) the Indiana Section of the A. C. S., and ( b ) the Local Senelary, J o m R. KUEBLER. Adjolrmed-5.30 P.M. R. A. BAKER.Secretary UNITED STATES CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATION FOR JUNIOR SUGAR TECHNOLOGIST The United States Civil-Service Commission aluounces an open competitive examination for the position of junior sugar technologist. Applications must he on file with the U. S. Civil-Service Commission a t Washington, D. C., not later than June 9, 1931. The examination is to fill vacancies in the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, Department of Agriculture, for duty in Washington, D. C., or in the field. The entrance salary is $2000 a year. Competitors will be rated on general chemistry, elementary physics, and mathematics, on practical questions on sugar technology, and on their education, training, and experience. Except in the case of senior students, who may he examined with the provision that they may not rntrr on d u l y until flaluatrd, applicants must h a w becn graduated Iron! 3 colleg~ or uni\.~riity01 r~cogni,edstanding with the completion ul a t least 118 c r c d ~ t hours, such a course to have included the fundamentals of chemistry, mathematics, and engineering or physics. Two years of suitable experience may be substituted for two years of the educational requirement. Full information may be obtained from the Secretary of the United States CivilService Board of Examiners a t the post office or customhouse in any city or from the United States CivilService Commission, Washington, D. C.
Discovery of Wave Motion in Positive Particles of Hydrogen. Dr. A. J. Dempster, University of Chicago physicist, whose discovery of wave motion in positive particles of hydrogen has been hailed by prominent physicists as the most important in years, was led t o his achievement by a "leaky" magnetic field which was designed t o keep out of the picture the very particles in which the wave motion was found. This discovery is said to open the way for the proof of the hypothesis that all matter is substantially the same, and that the various elements are merely matter under different conditions of motion. Dr. Dempster's discovery was made by deflecting hydrogen atoms off a crystal in a vacuum, upon a photographic plate, a t a speed 1,000,000 times that of ordinary light.-Chi Beta Phi Record
