ANALVTICAL EDITORIAL
July 1962, Vol. 34, No. 8 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Director of Publications, Applied Journals, A C S , C. B. Larrabee Editorial Director, Applied Journals, A C S Richard L. Kenyan Assistunt to the Director of Publications, A p plied Journals, A C S , Joseph H. Kuney Assistant to the Editorial Director, Applied Journals, A C S , Rodney N. Hader Director of Editorial Research, Applied Journals. A C S , Robert F. Gould
Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLETT
EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155SixteenthSt.,N.W. Phone: REpublic 7-3337 Teletype WA 23 Associate Editors: G. Gladys Gordon, Sue M. Solliday Editorial Assistants: Patricia A. Cunniff, Virginia E. Stewart Editorial Rejerence: Barbara A. Gallagher Product ion Staff-Washing ton : J w p h Jacobs ( A r t Director) John V. Sinnett ( A r t ) Production Staff-Easton, Pa.: 20th and Northampton Sts. Associate Editor: Charlotte C . Sayre Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe
REGIONAL EDITORIAL BUREAUS Eastern Manager: WiUiamQ. Hull (New York) NEW YORK 17, N. Y. 733 Third Ave. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 1725 Pennsylvania Blvd. M i d c o n t i n e n t a n d Western Manager: Arthur Poulos (Chicago) CHICAGO 3, Ill. 36 South Wahash Ave. CLEVELAND 14, Ohio 1367 East Sixth S t . SAN FRANCISCO 4, Calif 57 Past St. LOS ANGELES 5, Calif. 422 South Western Ave. HOUSTON 2, Tex. 1121 Walker St. Washington Southeastern WASHINGTON 6, D. C 1155Sixteenth St., N.W. European FRANKFURT/MAIN, West Germany Siesmayerstrasse 58 LONDON, W.l, England 77 South Audley St.
Contributing Editor: R. H. Miiller Adusory Board: J. E. Barney 11, C. E. Bricker, D. D. DeFord, E. C. Dunlop, J. C. Giddings, R. F. Goddu, H . V. Malmstadr. W. B. Mason, F. W. Mitchell, Jr., M. L. Moss J. D. News, L. B. Rogers, B. F. Scrihner, Irving Shain, Sidney Siggia Aduertising Management REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (for Branch Offices, see page 127 A)
Educate To develop (as a person) b y fostering to varying degrees the growth or expansion of knowledge, wisdom, desirable qualities of the mind or character, physical health or general competence, especially b y a course of formal study or instruction,
THIS
DICTIONARY DEFINITION covers a wide variety of desirable human attributes. The techniques of education which produce, or fail to produce, these qualities have always been the subject of debate. Today the surveying of our educational goal is again the concern of not only our universities but also industry and government. The educational content of all school systems is influenced or dominated by the economic and political aspirations of a nation. Our own country gave up the tutoring system of England and the Continent, which produced a n elite class of educated people, and substituted classroom mass education with its attendant program of fixed courses to be fitted into a prescribed number of years. Within this philosophy of mass education has developed a technique of advanced standing examinations which permits flexibility in education, and takes into account the student's home environment. maturity, accomplishment in high school, ability to work a t the college level. and special interests. Superimposed on this desirable concept we have today the added pressure to seek out the superior student in the physical sciences and mathematics, and under forced draft to make him a specialist. This approach has so far not produced well adjusted individuals. Excesive pressure on a brilliant student may even cause him to fail because a t this time of his life the mind may outrun the normal physical and emotional adjustment t h a t must be made. Some undesirable by-products of our modern educational system are caused by undue emphasis on the bright student, and overattention to those x h o are physically and mentally handicapped. The average students suffer from a feeling of inferiority. I t is time to ingrain in this group, who will make up the bulk of our future citizens, the inoral and spiritual values tvhich will enable them to lead meaningful lives in their communities. The brilliant student should be well educated and encouraged to take a position of leadership. However, our present educational philosophy is more likely to produce superior human computers and specialists who may be exploited by government and industry. The urgency of this problem is accentuated by the occasional scientific specialist who is n-orse than inept in dealing with political and moral issues. -4nother matter of growing concern is the increasing number of people who are eniotionally overconcerned with security and feel t h a t they have no purpose in life. This points to the need for a philosophy that will produce a truly educated individual, well adjusted t o his environment and keenly interested in living.
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