THE ADMINISTRATION OF A LOCAL CHEMISTRY ESSAY CONTEST
Beginning with the year 1923-24 the American Chemical Society through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Garvan has conducted its annual National Essay Contest for high and secondary schools. For the last five of these years a contest has also been held for college and university freshmen and for the last three, a third for normal school and teachers' college students. That these essay contests have been a success can be seen from their growth and the increasing numbers of boys and girls actively engaged each year in preparing essays.' In many schools the annual essays have become a looked-for part of the school activities and it is hoped that the Chemical Society and the Gawans will continue sponsoring these activities. The objectives as stated by Mr. Gawan are:'
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. . to arouse an intelligent appreciation of the vital relation of the development of chemistry to our national defense, to the intensification and purification of industry and agriculture and to the progress of medicine through the "Age of Chemistry" upon which we have entered. That these objectives have been achieved is expressed by a quotation from the same source:'
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There can be no doubt that the world is entering upon a great renaissance of science. Scientific progress in the last two or three decades has been tremendous and everything ~ o i n t to s even more vigorous and extensive progress within the next few years. There can be, then, no better or greater work than the bringing home of this truth t o the students of today. Even though the boys and girls in school may not elect to followa scientific career i t is extremely necessary that they be alive to the progress that is being made. That the Prize Essay Contest accomplishes this end has been shown by theexperience of the past year but if a great and lasting good is to be achieved, a proportionately greater effort must be expended. ~
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This effort must originate in our schools a t individual centers all over the country. The objectives as stated are worthy enough to initiate in each school such a contest. In addition an abundance of prizes both state and national are offered contestants and the publication of winning EDUCATION is excellent advertising essays in the JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL for the fortunate schools. Those schools which have not entered essays in the past, should immediately plan to have representation in this year's contest. 1
"Something Done and an Opportunity," Report of Committee on Prize Essays,
THISJOURNAL, 1,161-7 (Sept., 1924).
Suggested Methods of Handling a Contest There are three methods of handling a local contest: (1) as special problems; (2) as part of classroom activities; (3) as an extra-classroom activity. The Essay as a Special Problem.-Success has rewarded this method in the past. It is probably the most used and is especially well adapted to small schools. It requires an educational program of the student body in general and voluntary entrance of contestants. Promising pupils can be solicited and their competition requested by the teachers in charge. Whatever the incentive, the essay is strictly an extra activity and must he handled individually. The Essay as a Part of Classroom Activity.-This also is a much-used plan. The essay writers are either assigned the essay or allowed to select an essay as a part of differential assignments or as a special problem or contract. A second method used is to excuse the writer from certain regular classwork so that he may devote time to the essay. These plans can be used either in the chemistry course, an English course, or in more fortunate schools as a joint project of chemistry and English. The Essay as an Extra-Classroom Activity.-To the author this method seems to offer greater possibilities than the others. Every up-to-theminute school requires participation in extra-classroom activities as part of the school life. Why not include the Chemical Essay Club as one of the cultural activities along with dramatics, journalism, debating, other clubs, and musical activities? Such an activity offers opportunity for a h c h better development of interest and for guided group training which should result in a higher achievement for the pupils. Correlation between the English and chemistry departments can be more easily brought about, a chemistry instructor and an English instructor being sponsors for the Chemical Essay Club. A year's constructive program both for club members and the school a t large can be worked out with great profit and pleasure to the members whether a winning essay is developed or not. Such a program should result in a larger club membership and much healthy competition. If i t is felt that a year is too long for maintaining interest in these activities they can be incorporated into the chemistry club and become the major part of the work for one semester. Suggestions for Arousing Interest and Developing a Local Chemistry Essay Contest The suggestions offered below can be applied to any of the three outlined plans. 1. Use the school paper if one is available. Reporters will be glad to get an item with such news interest as offered by the contest. A series
of articles a t frequent intervals tends to keep the matter before the pupil's eyes and is bound to get results. The possibility offered by the local papers should not be neglected. These two (the school and local papers) can furnish the news interest for the contest. Then, get the interest of an editor of the school paper in order to show the necessity of the competition and to obtain full benefit of the "power of the press." 2. Hold conferences with influential and promising pupils in order to gain their coijperation or to have them set the example by entering the contest. 3. Exhibit pupil-made posters in prominent places. 4. Let competing pupils or those who have competed make talks before the students, in class, in the club, or in assembly. The talks should point out the pleasure and benefits derived from tlie competition, explain the method of attack on a problem, and give reasons for selecting a particular problem. 5. Bring the semi-popular literature2 bearing on the subject to the attention of pupils by class or club assignment or through individual reports by the students. Here is an important item that can be best handled as an extra-classroom activity. The regular class schedules are filled to capacity for most pupils and although reports could be and are made in class by the more capable members, more benefit for all can be derived from a more intimate discussion such as would develop in an extra-class activity. The fact alone that it is extra-class instead of class work would have a psychological significance. Q 6. Let the writers of the better essays present their work for discussion to the class, club or in some cases to the school a t large. This offers another angle to the pupil training and also brings the essay contest more forcibly to the attention of less interested individuals. 7. Hold discussions of the prize-winning essays of previous years.& What features caused them to win? How can they be bettered? Here again the Chemistry Essay Club offers the best opportunity for these studies. 8. Conduct a local contfst on each of the six topics either for honors or a small prize. A cup or plaque on which the winning names are engraved would be a permanent reminder when exhibited in the trophy case or room. Some such contest is sorely needed if many essays are written. Only the best should be submitted for the state or national contests. These local contests should be judged by a t least three judges, one of whom is a chemistry instructor. In case of the extra-classroom club the contest could be for members 5,1172-7 (Sept., 1928). "Bibliography for Prize Essay Contest," Tms JOURNAL. sIbid., 2, 1138, 1101-25 (1925); 3, 638-81, 101&45 (1926); 4, 711-43, l l l P 45 (1927); 5,791-823, 1056-84 (1928); 6, 123&64, 142540, 1681-1715 (1929).
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LOCAL C ~ M I S TESSAY R Y CONTBST
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only or better, for the school a t large. Competitors who are not members of the club should be eligible for prizes or honors but not for other recognition that would be due the club members. In case a merit system is in force satisfactory membership in the club, including an essay, should count toward merits on a par with membership in any other activity. Winning a local contest would then count additional merits, while winning or placing in a state or national contest would count still more. There is no valid reason why winning in this type of activity should not be awarded school insignia or a t least be placed on the same basis as winning in athletic competition. Principles to Be Enforced Whatever system is used in administrating the essay contest certain principles must be enforced. 1. A proper balance must be maintained between extra-class and classroom activities. 2. There must be guidance and coijperative leadership rather than complete direction on the part of the sponsors. 3. The development and welfare of the pupil is more important than the success of the activity. 4. Opportunity for student initiative must be given. 5. There must be democracy in admission to the activity. 6. Freedom of choice in selecting topics should be allowed. 7. Eligibility must be determined to avoid harm to the pupil in any way. 8. Only constructive criticism should be offe?ed. 9. Recognition must be given for accomplishment. 10. The activity must be considered as a definite part of the teacher's load.
