Secondary Chemistry Teachers Leave Their Mark On the 6th International Chemical Education Conference A. M. Sarquis High School Editor, JOURNALOF CHEMICAL EDUCATION Miami University-Middletown, 4200 E. University Blvd., Middletown, OH 45042 For a week in August 1981, over 500 chemical educators from around the world met to share thoughts about education, chemistry, international and local problems. The willingness to work-yes, work-toward viable solutions to these problems was evldent everywhere. Days and evenings were full-lectures, discussion groups, displays, demonstrations, poster sessions, computer utilization sessions, "birds-of-a-feather" sessions. T o report on all these would fill this entire volume, and that is not my goal. The Conference Report will detail the specifics of these activities. What I would like to do here is focus on the work of a large, pvrsixenr, hardwurkiny group d p e ~ p l twho , met rhruughuur the week u t ' t t , ~ ils~edrlv a, k30 A h l . iuld a i late m9:Oil I' hl ; during breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; and whenever other free time could be found. This group gathered in what the conference organizers appropriately entitled a "birds-of-afeather" session. Under the able leadership of Jan Harris (herself a high school chemistry teacher from Cypress Fairbanks High School, Houston, Texas 770431, dver 100 people worked to identify, discuss, and make recommendations for solutions to specific problems encountered by chemistry teachers a t the pre-college level. T h e following is an excerpt from the ICCE Conference Report. It is presented here in the hope that the reader will share this account with his or her fellow chemistry teachers oolicv-makine boards and comand administrators. with . . mittees, and with prbfessional organizatiins of educators and chemists. Our premise is that widespread recognition of these concerns and adoption of these recommendations will help alleviate the ~rohlems.and thus improve chemical education^ a t the pre-college level.
Report to the ICCE Conference Editors From the Secondary School Interest Group The following items were identified as major concerns of secondary teachers from all countries represented a t the Sixth International Conference on Chemical Education. They are, therefore, seen as truly International concerns. Safety
Scientists and teachers are becomine increasinelv aware of the need for improved safety practices &d for thenconsistent use. Establishment of such euidelines is essential for the protection and education of t i e student. 1. Safety courses are not generally a part of the estabhshed currieu-
lum for prospective teachers. Teachers,therefore,find themselves settine uo a storeroom and lahoratorv without the necessarv safety Recommendation Safety courses should he an integral part of teacher training. 2. Continuing education programs in safety are not available for all
science teachers. Recommendation In-service training in safety should he provided for all science teachers. 3. Scientists are hecomine increasinelv aware of the need for im-
Impressions-The 6th International Conference on Chemical Education Having never before attended an lnternational conference of any kind, I didn't quite know what to expect. My first imaression was of a lot of verv nice veoole who were mite willinr to stop whatever they were doingto help or just totalk. At the first day's lunch I sat with a Canadian and a New Zealander; we became old friends by the end of the week. A jumble of impressions: Art Camphell moves much more quickly than he did in the CHEMS movies! Computers. Poster sessions. Curriculum arguments above all! That's where the real fun was-sittine down with one. two. or more new they are right. A hudget of two or three hundred dollars isn't so had! Teachers from some countries get $10 or $15 per year, per class. Now, that's a low hudget! And last of all, came the time to say goodbye, hut all that time I was hoping to see everyone again sometime, somewhere. Lawrence L. Brandon Thornwood High School South ~ o l l a n dlL, ~60473
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Recommendation Consistent guidelines for the safe use and disposal of materials, appropriate for chemistry instruction, should be developed with the aid of the chemical educator. These guidelines should then be widely distributed to various science organizations, schools, and universities. 4. Programs in the schools t o increase student awareness of safety
precautions are not always available. Recommendation Safety programs for students should he developed and shared within the science education community. 5. In many schools, the chemistry laboratories are overcrowded. Because the safety of the students in the lah seems to he related
to class size, such laboratories are not safe. Recommendation The number of students assigned to the laboratory should neither exceed the number that it was desinned to accommodate nor should it exceed the number that can be safely supervised by the teacher.
6. The question of liability was also addressed,but insufficient time
and information was available to investigate thoroughly this problem. B. Currlculum Development
There is a concern that many established curricula succeed in motivating only a few students to pursue a career in chemistry or related fields. Often the interest of the student is actually decreased or destroyed altogether, and the negative feelings are all too readily transferred to science.
1.
There is a need for a greater awareness among teachers of the conditions under which members of the profession operate in other countries. These include the constraints of finance and accommodation under which we work and the status of the teaching profession within the community.
Recommendation I t is proposed that a series of articles should he written hy secondary school teachers throughout the world. These articles would describe the constraints and resources within which these teachers must work.
1. All students should be made aware of chemical processes and of
the many links between chemistry, society, and the environment. Recommendation Instead of offering one highly theoretical course for a select group and a "weaker" course for the rest, schools should offer only one course a t the introductory level. Such a course might emphasize the role of chemistry in all human activities.
vised to reflect these changes. Recommendation ( ' ~ ~ S I R I comniunication II bt:tn.rrn pre-secmdary. accundwy, and n,llege level teachera J ~ U I I I Iw ~ ~.nri~uraged so l h 3 1 prr-n,llt.ge level teachers can I N incluaed in impurlnnt di:t i sions in curriculum development. C. Professional Concerns
There were several concerns relating to the profession of chemistry teaching.
tional Conferences on Chemical Education Recommendation Teachers in secondary schools should continue to be encouraged to be actively involved in the organization of conferences. Organizations concerned with the teaching profession and with chemistry should encourage teachers to attend international conferences. 3. There is a need to prevent the increasing cost of chemicals and apparatus from decreasing the quality of teaching.
Recommendation
particularly to chemicais which are expensive, d i f f i d t to dispose of, or difficult to store. Local groups should investigate the possibility of sharing apparatus and chemicals. Local industry should be contacted and encouraged to donate equipment or sell i t a t a substantial reduction to schools.
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Number 2
February 1982
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D. Multi-National Concerns Several items were identified as multi-national concerns, but because of the dissimilaritv of customs and uractices among the various countries represented, blatant differences were found to exist. Because these uroblems were not common to all, they were not classified as international concerns. 1. In several countries, there is a need to narrow the gap between
teacher's salaries and salaries for chemists working in industry.
Recommendation Teachers' salaries should be increased to more closely uarallel those of their industrial counteruarts. Well-uaid summer work which would provide appropriate induslrial experience for the teacher should be made available. 2. In several countries, there is a need for teachers to have greater
prestige within their communities. Recommendation I n order to emphasize the importance of quality teaching, the teacher should interact with the community by way of lecture demonstrations, parent-teacher groups, etc. Increases in the financial status of teachers is also warranted. 3. In several countries, there is a need for an increased participation
by the secondary school teacher in the chemical community. The communication between secondarv and colleee level education
versity courses should be provided a t appropriate times. E. Characteristics of Students
Although specific recommendations for the aolution of the following concerns were not elicited, these items are worth noting with the hope that individuals working in these areas will share their recommendations with the mternational community. 1. Communication Skills
Ways must he found and implemented to improve the mathematics and language skills for use in science. 2. Attrition of Students
rates from cou&es. 3. Women in Science
There is much concern in some parts of the world that insufficient numbers of women are entering scientific professions (e.g., engineering, medicine, chemistry). There is often insufficient opportunity to study science, particularly chemistry, a t school. The following are the names of the persons who chaired the various subcommittees that develoued the above recommendations. A list of the other memhek of the committees can be obtained by writing this editor.
organizations should be encouraged to provide mare activities appropriate to the needs of the secondary school teacher. Recommendation Opportunities for continuing education should he improved. Funded summer institute programs and local uni-
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Frank Jenkins, Canada Tam O'Brien, U.S.A. Keith Badman, U.K. Richard Walker, U.R.
