MINUTES OF NEW ORLEANS MEETING, MARCH 28-APRIL 1,1932 Report of the Secretary of the Division of Chemical Education Details of the meeting of the 83rd Convention of the American Chemical Society may be found in the April 10 News Edition of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Those who attended were unanimous in their expressions of appreciation to the Louisiana Section and to the citizens of New Orleans for hospitality long to be remembered. The Executive Committee of the Division of Chemical Education met for about three hours Monday. The Senate met for over two hours Wednesday afternoon, following which the regular business meeting of the Division was held. Fourteen members of the Editorial Board met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the policies of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION and The Chemistry Leqfet. At noon Tuesday, 87 members of the Division and their guests lunched together. Attractive menu-program cards decorated with an original etching by Professor Mack of Penn State were distributed as souvenirs. H. W. Moseley presided and as a highly catalytic toastmaster introduced President Redman and President-Elect Lamb of the A. C. S., Owen L. Shinn, chairman of the Division, Neil E. Gordon, editor of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, Superintendent Nicholas Bauer of the New Orleans schools, and Professor Clara de Milt of Newcomb College. Their addresses were all well received and undoubtedly created a higher regard for and interest in chemical education. As announced in the April issue of the JOUF.NAL, two half-day sessions were devoted to the reading of miscellaneous papers and one to a joint program with the Divisions of Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. The greater number of these papers will be published in the JOURNALOF CHEMICAL EDUCATION. Spirited discussions attended the round-table conference on the recently published "Program for Teaching Science." It seemed to be the consensus of opinion that this Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education had been issued without due regard for existing studies. Serious doubt was expressed as to whether the proposed program could be considered as either representative or authoritative. For the benefit of those who wished to make intelligent use of the "Program," a mimeographed list was distributed containing over 100 pertinent articles which have appeared in the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION and to which no reference is made in this Yearbook. Minutes of the Meetings of the Executive Committee 1. Chairman. The Chairman reported the appointment of two committees which were authorized a t the Buffalo meeting in September. 1477
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Auousr. 1932
(a) Premedical Requirements in Chemistry: J. P. MONTGOMERY, Chairman, University of Alabama, University, Ala. R. I. GRADY,College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio. F.C. IRWIN,College of the City of Dstroit, Detroit, Mich. E. E. REID, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. ( b ) Mathematics for Chemists: FARRINGTON DANIELS,Chairman, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison. Wis. GEORGE H. BRUCE,Horace Mann School for Boys, New York City. Dept. of Chem. Eng., Missouri School of Mines W. T. SCHRENCK, and Metallurgy, Rollo, Mo. CHAS. H. STONE,English High School, Boston, Mass. JOHN H. YOE, University of Virginia, University, Va. 2. Secretary. The Secretary reported that there are now 548 active and 949 associate members, a gain of 72 and 239, respectively, since the Indianapolis meeting a year ago. Questions concerning which the Executive Committee has voted by letter ballot since the Buffalo meeting have been decided as follows: (a) It was voted to publish in the JOURNAL the Label titles recommended by the Committee on Labels. [See J. CHEM.EDUC.,9, 344-8 (Feb., 1932).] (b) It was voted to grant the Committee on Labels an additional $25.00. The report was approved. 3. Local Secretary. The Local Secretary reported upon his campaign to contact all chemistry teachers within a radius of 150 miles and upon his multiple duties as liaison officer for the Division prior to the meeting. One hundred eighty-seven letters were mailed to local chemistry teachers. with only two returns because of incorrect addresses. tcarheis were invited to attend the divisional luncheon and prowam mcctinas on Tuesday. The Art Dc~artmcntof the KenmanA~c&ool made very attragtive poster advertising the luncheon and Supt. Nicholas Bauer of the New Orleans Schools and Professor Clara de Milt of Newcomb College were secured for the luncheon program. Through Mr. Lyle Howell, desirable accommodations were provided for students a t $1.00 per day, and through Mr. E. S. Hock, arrangements were made for the special breakfasts, luncheons, and dinners which were sponsored by the Division. Expenditures by the Local Secretary totaled $23.64. The report was approved and a vote of thanks extended to Mr. Allee for his excellent and untiring work. He was requested to express our appreciation to the Newman School for the donation of clerical services, to Miss Marcelle Peret and Miss Joel Simon for the art poster which advertised the luncheon, and t o Mr. Thomas Green and Mr. Karlem Riess for their able secretarial assistance. 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer presented a report of monies received and expended since September, 1931. The bank in which the divisional funds had been deposited suspended payment in January of this year. When payment is resumed an audited account will be presented. The report was accepted. 5. Business Manager. The Secretary presented a report from the Business Manager showing (a) receipts and expenditures on account of
:
Hosrs
AND GUESTS AT THR
LUNCHEONTENDERED B Y THE DIVISION O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION TO THE TEACHERS OF N E W VICINITY AT THE SPRING MEETINGOF THE ADIERICAX CHEMICAL SOCIETY
ORLEAh-s AND
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the JOURNAL and the Leaflet for 1931 and (b) an analysis of the JOURNAL subscriotion lists and advertising contracts for 1931. The >eport was accepted. 6. Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief resented a Dromess reoort which was accepted. NEW BUSINESS The special committee, consisting of Wilhelm Segerblom (Chair(1) man), Owen L. Shinn, and Ross A. Baker, appointed a t the Buffalo meeting to consider the policies and problems of the Division, recommended: (a) that associate membership dues be raised; (b) that the EDUCATION be raised; subscription rate to the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL (c) that group subscriptions to the JOURNAL be discontinued; (d) that an attempt be made to put the Leafiet on a self-supporting basis. The discussion clearly brought out the facts that the expense of publishing the JOURNAL and Leaflet have exceeded by several fold all receipts from subscriptions and advertising; that gifts from outside sources will not be sufficient to finance the Division's activities for the coming year without increasing the revenue from regular channels and that the recommended changes would be permitted under our Constitution. The report was accepted. (Secretary's Note: Final decisions are being reached by letter ballot and will he announced in THISJOURNAL.)(See p. 1315.)
'.
A
Minutes of the Meeting of the Senate of Chemical Education 24 P.M.
MARCH30, 1932
Present: OWEN L. SHINN, Chairman; Ross A. BAKER,Secretary. Colorado: ROBERTCOLLIER,JR.; Connecticut: C. R. HOOVER(proxy for G. A. HILL); Georgia: J. SAMGUY; Illinois: B. S. HOPKINSAND R. E. GREENFIELD; Indiana: R. N. HARGER (proxy for W. F. COOVER); Louisiana: W. G. ALLBE; Maryland: NEIL E. GORDON; Missouri: 0. M. WEIGLE; Nebraska: W. N. STEINBACH (proxy for B. C. HENDRICKS);Oklahoma: 0. N. SMITH; Pennsyl~ania:J. N. SWAN;Rhode Island: N. W. RAKESTRAW. (Note: Several committee members accepted the general invitation and were present to discuss the reports of their respective committees.) REPORTSOF COMMITTEES 1. Chemical Education of the Non-Collegiate Type.
R. E. BOWMAN, Chairman, transmitted a progress report in the form of copies of a mimeographed letter designed to be sent to industrial firms, asking for confidential information concerning their non-collegiate technicians and operators. The questionnaire will be referred to more specifically in a subsequent report of the committee. The letter was approved for distribution. 2. Chemical Education by Radio. R. F. MCCRACKAN, Chairmun, presented the following report, which was accepted: The number of talks on chemical subjects given over local stations during the last twelve months is very gratifying. The most outstanding single example is the work of the Broadcast Committee of the Northeast- Section of the A. C. S. whose chairman
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is M. J. Ahern. Theqe broadcasts are made a t 2:00-2: 15 Thursday afternoons over WNAC-WEAN and WICC, and a t 8 :30-8:45 Thursday evenings over stations WAABWORC and WNBH. Dr. Ehrenfeld, of our committee, has broadcast four papers recently from WFAA, Dallas, and several from Chicago. Dr. Saul B. Arenson of the committee has broadcast lectures from WLW. while the chairman has served as a mtmber of the special Committee an Industrial Chemistry by Radio appointed by the resident of the A. C. S. shortly after the Buffalo meeting. He also attended the first assembly of the National ~ d v i s o r yCouncil an Radio in Education in New York, May 21-23, 1931, and filed a report (Radio in Education. 1931, pp. 211-2). The problem of chemical education by radio is a part of the larger problem of education by radio. and all educators must work together. There is some skepticism about whether results in general in the past have justified the efforts. Dr. Arenson has tried to get some first-hand data concerning four of his lectures hmadcast recently from WLW, a fifty kilowatt station to which many people in thirty states have learned to turn for educational numbers put on by the Ohio Sehool of the Air. From reading 2000 letters, but not tabulating them accurately, he thought his listeners were: high-school students 25%, people in isolated districts 25%, business and professional men 1&15%, teachers and ministers 5y0, and others 30%. Dr. Arenson hopes to put on another series in the fall. One of the most important outcomes of the assembly of the National Advisory Council on Radio in Education was that the Cauncil through its Director, Mr. Levering Tyson, undertook to foster a series of talks an economies and psychology over the National Broadcasting System. Each talk is prepared and delivered by a different authority on the subject. Readers' Notebooks outlining studies are distributed in advance, and after the broadcasts, which are made Saturday evenings 8:30-9:00 o'claek, the lectures printed in full are distributed by the Chicago Press. If the experiment proves a success other series may follow, and possibly the chemists, sooner or later, may have their turn to broadcast over one or both of the g n a t chain systems.
3. Chemistry Clubs. In the absence of the Chairman, ROBERT COLLIER,JR., a member of the committee presented a progress report which was accepted. 4. Chemistry Libraries. RUFUSD. REED, Chairman, presented the following progress report by letter: Your committee has submitted its tentative list to chemistry teachers in high ,schools and colleges, and is now ready to attack the problem of securing from each author a 50-100 word statement of the hook to teachers and to pupils.
The report was accepted. 5. Correlation of High-School and College Chemistry. NEIL E. GORDON, Chairman, presented the following report, which was accepted: The committee has revised the high-school part of the correlation plan and is now working on the revision of the college part. Publication of the revised outline will be postponed until the entire revision is completed.
6. Examinations and Tests. 0. M. SMITH,Chairman, presented the following report, which was accepted: Your committee on Enaminstions and Tests has not had the opportunity of meeting together; in lieu of this considerable correspondence has passed between its members. The inability to get together has prevented more rapid progress. This committee has co6perated with Dr. R. W. Tyler of the Ohio State University representing the American
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Council on Education. On his suggestion a formulation of the objectives in general chemistry is being attempted. Work on this one project is well under way and we hope will be accomplished soon. To determine the objectives in the teaching of general chemistry, from which a basis may be established for the judgment of tests, a questionnaire on the "Proposed Objectives in the Teaching of General College Chemistry'' were sent to a representative list of schools. I n this list were all of the Land-Grant Colleges, the Universities, who are members of the American Association of Universities, and a selected list of Technological Institutions and Colleges. This list was obtained from the Appendixes No. 2. page 834, of American Universities and Colleges (1928). The - mlleges were selected by chaosing every third institution. The attached questionnaire was sent to a total of 190 schools, several copies being included in the letter to the larger institutions. The replies are as follows: ~
School Land-Grant Colleges Universities, not included in Land-Grant Schools Colleges Total Schools and replies
No. of SchooJs 26 20 28
74
No. of Replies 69 41 57 167
The results of this study are in the process of completion and will be offered for publication in a few weeks. Dr. R. W. Tyler also announces that it appears that the committee, if it so desires, may have the s e n i c e s of s full-time man, paid partly by the American Council and partly by the Columbia University, available not later than July first. The expense of this investigation now totals 8130.91 and before completion will amount t o about $50.00. No budget has been allowed for the work of thiscommittee. Dr. Tyler acting for the American Council on Education has offered t o meet this expense.
It was the sense of the meeting that grants in aid should be accepted only with the understanding that the Division should exercise full authority in the conduct of the investigation and the employment of help. 7. Labels. In the absence of the Clzairman, L. R. LITTLETON,a member of the committee presented the following report which was approved : Following the approval a t the Buffalo meeting, the revised label titles were pub. [9, 3 4 4 8 (Feb., 1932)l. This lished in the JOURNALoa C ~ M I U UEDUCATIOK list is now being distributed to editors, authors, publishers, and individuals known to be interested in chemical nomenclature. To see that a label book is published embodying this list would necessitate the continuation of the committee for a few months.
8. Major Topic Organization of High-School Chemistry. HARRYA. CARPENTER, Chairman, transmitted in mimeographed form a list of major and minor concepts, designed to be distributed to teachers for cotistructive criticism. The report was accepted. 9. Mathematics for Chemists. FARRINGTON DANIELS, Chairman, transmitted by letter the following progress report, which was accepted: We are working on a report which we intend to present a t the next meeting of the American Chemical Soeiety in September a t Denver. Then, I think, we should disband the committee Our report will cover (1) specific recommendations concerning the mathematics courses which should be taken before admittance to courses in chemistry; (2) recommendations concerning types of problems of a chemical nature which
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SECRETARY'S REPORT
might well be included in texts in mathematics. Our committee is anxious t o receive suggestions from chemists concerning these requirements.
10. Minimum Equipment for High-School Chemistry. J. H. JENSEN, Chairman, transmitted the following report which was accepted: A list of chemicals necessary for the essential experiments has been prepared. showing the actual quantities and grades of chemicals needed. This list is being mailed to the members of the Senate of Chemical Education.
11. Minimum Standards. J. N. SWAN,Chairman, presented the following report which was accepted: Your committee would report that so far our work has been that of initiating advanced methods of securing statistics. We desire to find which institutions are giving degrees and what equipment these have in the way of laboratories andlaboratory facilities. We also wish to know the number of teachers of chemistry in each institution and the training these have had for their work. We find that the U. S. Commissioner of Education is interested in our subject and is now gathering statistics along the line of o w quest. We believe i t would be best to await the outcome of this effort before going into the same field and entailing needless expense. In the meantime we will try to cooperate with the government officials in every way we can. ~
12. Committee on Naming and Scope of Committees. WILHELM SEGERBLOM,Chairman, transmitted the following report, which was accepted: The Committee on Naming and Scope of Committees makes the following report of its activities since the last meeting of the American Chemical Society. No new matters were referred to us at the Buffalo meeting. Since September four routine matters have been referred to us by the Secretary. 1. At the request of Mr. McGill our committee formally ratified the appointment of the Committee on Vocational Guidance. 2. Names of additional persons to work on test and measurement problems were requested by the Committee on Examinations and tests. 3. Suggestions for a new chairman for the Committee on Visual Aids in Chemical Education were requested. 4. Suggestions for a new member for the Committee on Chemical Education of NonCollegiate Type were requested. Action upon these assignments will be forthcoming.
13. Optimum Size of Classes. VICTOR A. COULTER, Chairman, presented the following report which was accepted: Your committee, appointed last summer, met in Buffalo and discussed the possibilities for attacking its problem. It was the unanimous view of the committee that a questionnaire would yield only divergent opinions of doubtful value, since i t has been the observation of each member that questionnaires were generally considered a nuisance and answered without giving real thought t o the questions. We then decided to look into what had been previously done along the line of class size and later, possibly a t this meeting, map out a plan of procedure. A little investigation into the literature on education brought us to a book by F'rofessor Hudelson of the University of Minnesota, "Clars Size a t the College Level," published in 1928. The book is in reality a report of a faculty committee appointed in 1924 to study this problem for the University of Minnesota. A review of previous work on class size beginning with the work of Rice in 1896 is given. but none of the previous work was conclusive. The investigators a t Minnesota then started on an elaborate experimental determination of the
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effect of class size on what the student learned. The system of using matched groups of students in large and small sections and comparing the resulting grades was used. Class sizes ranged from 11 t o 150 and for the years for which the report is published involved over 6000 students in mom than 100 classes. None of these classes were in chemistry. Classes in physics were included in the test. The work was not considered complete with the publication of the book. I n the Journal of Higher Educatwn for November, 1930, Professor Hudelson reports that the experiments are still going on and they have now covered the work of more than 10,000 students. In four out of five cases, the results were as good or better in large classes taught by the lecture method as in small classes using small class methods. There have been no data published on laboratory work, a very important, perhaps the most important, phase of instruction from the chemist's viewpoint. We believe the general methods used a t Minnesota could he satisfactorily applied t o laboratory classes. This investigation will be continued and it is hoped that the final results a t Minnesota will s w n be available. These results will probably largely determine the future course of the committee.
14. Premedical Requirements in Chemistry. J. P. MONTGOMERY, Chairman, presented a formal report which was adopted and which was EDUCATION [9, 1117-21 published in full in the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL (June, 1932)l. 15. Preparation of High-School Teachers. A. J. CURRIER,Chairman, transmitted the following report: The Committee on Reparation of High-Schwl Chemistry Teachers bas undertaken no new work beyond that which was reported upon a t the Buffalo meeting in September. I feel that the committee bas accomplished about all that I see can be accomplished and I believe the other members of the committee have the same view of the matter. May I say that I am glad to have bad the opportunity to contribute to the prohlem of teacher training and appreciate very much the cooperation that I have had from the committee and from the officers of the Division.
It was voted to accept the resignations of the members of the present committee and to refer t o the Committee on Naming and Scope of Committees (Wilhelm Segerblom, Chairman) the question of constituting a new committee. 16. Teaching Load. J. E. MILLS, Chairman, presented the following progress report, which was accepted: A long preliminary report has been prepared and studied by the members oi the s that committee. Pinal conclusions have not yet been reached. It ~ m probable the Facts collected and a general discussion of the situation will be published shortly. Request will be made, a t that time, for additional information and for an expmsion of opinion from those interested.
17. Women's Club Study Course in Chemistry. HARRISONHALE, Chairman, transmitted the following report which was accepted: Your committee bas had two programs appearing this year in different numbers of The ChemGtry LeaRet. Mrs. Pauline Beery Mack is largely responsible for these programs and for the goad which we hope they accomplished. We have felt that i t was unwise under existing conditions t o push the work of our Committee unduly just now. We recommend that the Committee he continued, and our activity in the future will he determined by conditions then operative.
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Minutes of the Business Meeting of the Division 4 . 3 0 P.M.
MARCH 30,1932
1. The minutes of the Buffalo meeting were approved as published JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL EDUCATION [8, 2437-45 (Dec., 1931)l. 2. The actions of the Executive Committee and Senate (see fore-
in the
going record) were approved. 3. It was voted to express our thanks to the New Orleans Section forkheir cordial hospitality and for the careful and efficient planning which made our program successful ; and in particular to express our appreciation of the excellent services of WALTERG. ALLBEas Local Secretary. Adjourned 5:00 P.M. Ross A. BAKER,Secretary
ONE OF
THE
SCENIC ATTRACTIONS O F THE A. C. S . DENVER MEETING,AUGUST 22-26, 1932
