MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE DIVISION OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION AT THE TULSA MEETING, APRIL 5-8, 1926 I n the absence of the chairman, the meeting was called t o order by Professor H. P. Cady, vice-chairman. The first section was devoted t o a symposium on "Orientation and Segregation as Applied in Chemical Education." Methods of sectioning according to ability were reported as follows: University of Maine, C. A. Brautlecht; University of New Mexico, John D. Clark; University of Iowa, Edward Bartow; University of Pittsburgh, Carl J. Engelder; University of California, Merle Randall. I n addition brief reports were made from Purdue, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Northwestern. Many schools use the Iowa placement tests for determining relative abilities; others use the army intelligence test, a psychology test, or a test in simple ratio and proportion with a little simple algebra. I n some places the system of sectioning according t o ability has been in use for twelve years or more and the universal opinion indicated that the plan has decided advantages. The chief value lies in getting students of like abilities in groups by themselves. The good students are stimulated t o greater excellence especially if they are confronted with the danger of demotion for inferior work. Students in the intermediate sections who have an opportunity for advancement are generally eager t o win promotion and those in the lower sections realize the need of greater effort if they are t o succeed, while faults in previous preparation may be systematically corrected by extra work. Grades in the initial placement tests are generally an accurate index to the final grades in the course, although there are notable exceptions. The value of segregation lies not so much in permitting a predicted final grade as in classifying the students into groups which begin with an equal chance. It is significant that no institution reported dissatisfaction with the plan which is reported as furnishing inspiration t o both strong and weak students with beneficial results t o all. Following the symposium a varied program of papers of interest t o teachers of chemistry was given. Since these papers will be published in full in THISJOURNAL, only the most general impressions can be given here. "Putting the 'Is' in Chemistry" was the subject of an inspiring address by G. J. Esselen, Jr., of Boston. If chemistry is t o mean anything t o the student, i t is necessary t o create an interest in the subject and t o maintain that interest throughout the entire course. This can best be done by showing the applications of chemistry t o modern life. If we show the service of chemistry in producing and maintaining food supplies, in supplying clothing, building materials, and numerous conveniences, the luxuries of yesterday which have become the necessities of today, chemistry ceases t o be an academic nightmare and becomes a living,
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factor in modem life. It is not necessary to sacrifice the theories of chemistry in order to emphasize its applications, but i t is possible to teach fundamentals thoroughly and t o make them attractive by showing their applications. The excellent work which is being accomplished by the Prize Essay Contest was outlined by H. E. Howe, Editor of our Industrial Journal. The work of Dr. Howe's committee is tremendous in its proportions, and the cost of the contest represents a material expenditure, but the interest aroused in chemistry is most gratifying. For next year the contest is to he continued in the high schools on the same plan as last year; in the colleges it is to be limited to students in the freshman class. It is to be extended also to include normal schools and teachers' colleges. There is need of greater interest in college circles and the creation of interest depends largely on the teachers. All chemists are urged to boost the Prize Essay Contest in their own localities, especially among students who are eligible to enter the competition. "The Status of Chemistry Teaching in the Southwest" was outlined in a paper by Cliff R. Otto, who called attention to the fact that, while some states in the southwest were making splendid progress in teaching chemistry in secondary schools, other states were falling behind. Any national standards which are adopted must take into consideration the status of chemistry in these states, and the national organization should aid as much as possible in promoting the interests of chemistry in these localities. A preliminary report on the general features of the task of planning a chemical laboratory was made by J. N. Swan, whose committee has been making a systematic study of the problem. The main features of an efficient and economical building were outlined. A later report dealing with special features of interior arrangements is promised. Various devices for insuring individual work in the laboratory and for developing the habit of independent thought were discussed. Means of teaching the periodic system, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, the chemical equation, and other puzzling portions of the teacher's task were discussed and valuable suggestions made. The closing session of the Division was a joint session held with the Section of Chemical History, F. B. Dains, presiding. An interesting paper, illustrated with slides, on "A Chemical Laboratory Two Hundred Years Ago" was read by F. B. Dains. "Faraday's Discovery of Benzene" was described in a paper by L. C. Newell. An illustrated talk on "John Dalton and His W o r k was given by H. F. Coward, of Sheffield, England, who has had unusual opportunities to investigate Dalton's life and work. The methods of using chemical symbols, the beginnings of molecular structure, and the close approach
to the idea of isomeric compounds and the use of chemical equations were points of unusual interest. Pictures of Dalton's original apparatus were shown. The closing paper was a valuable demonstration of the use of motion pictures, especially with the compact kodoscope, in visual chemical instruction. The taking of such pictures requires little time and the cost is moderate. The possibilities for showing both correct and incorrect manipulation and for illustrating manufacturing processes are unlimited. A brief business meeting was held in which reports from the following committees were presented: Nomenclature, A. P. Sy, Chairman; Research on Problems of HighSchool Chemistry Instruction, Earl R. Glenn,
Chairman. Because of lack of time these reports were referred to the Committee on Chemical Education for consideration and action. Plans for the Philadelphia Meeting were discussed. It was voted to recommend that three groups of papers be called for, based upon the following central thoughts: (1) History of Chemical Education during the past 50 years, with a prophecy concerning the future. This may be a joint offering with the Section of Chemical History. (2) The Status of Chemical Engineering Education, in conjunction with the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry and the Committee of Chemical Engineering Education. (3) Types of Chemical Education employed in other lands, if visiting chemical educators can be secured to speak. Two additional committees were added to our list:
Research on Problems of College Chemistry Instruction. Aids lo Visual Chemical Instruction. B. S. HOPKINS,Secretary
Motor Fuel Made from Water and Coal. How synthetic fuels for internal combustion engines may he made from coal and water was described a t the Tulsa Meeting of the American Chemical Society by C. R. Hoover of Connecticut Wesleyan University, and associate investigators. The material employed in the process is the familiar water gas, made by passing a current of steam over a bed of red hot coal. When this watergas is conducted a t high temperature and pressure over a catalyzer, such as finely divided nickel, copper, iron, or other metal, the carbon in part combines with the hydrogen, giving a gaseous mixture that contains from twenty-five t o thirty per cent of compounds of higher heating value. By increasing the pressure of the process i t is possible to abtain compounds containing oxygen as well as hydrogen and carbon, such as alcohols and aldehydes of various kinds, some of which may prove on further investigation to have commercial possibilities.-Science Senice
