VOL. 5, No. 12
RECE~
istry for use as optional material for the better students; such material often adds greatly t o the interest of the course. The twenty drawings of apparatus are excellent hut i t may be questioned if perspective drawings are as well adapted for Laboratory Manual of High-School Chem- elementary instruction as are the simpler istry. GEORGE HOWARD BRUCE, line drawings. Where students are required t o draw the apparatus used in an Horace Mann School for Boys, Teachers' College, Columbia University. World experiment, there are few who can do perBook Company, Yonkers, New Yark, spective well, while most pupils can do an 101 pp. Twenty illnstra- acceptable line drawing. 1928. ix The appendix contains the usual useful tionsof apparatus. 13 X 19cm. $0.76. tables. The directions t o students a t the I n the preparation of this manual the author states that he has tried t o keep in beginning of the book contain much useful and valuable advice as to laboratory promind the point of view of the student. cedure. The experiments with the accompanying The hook is well printed and bound. I t directions have been tried out in the classwill form a welcome addition t o the list of room in mimeographed form, in proof, and laboratory manuals in which teachers of in the first edition. Clearness of direction chemistry should he interested. and ease of manipulation have been talked C. H. STONE over with the students. The result of this ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL, painstaking effort is a series of experiBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ments which are well within the understanding and manipulative skill of the. The Development of the High-School average boy or girl. No difficult experiCurriculum. Sixth Year Book, Dep't ments have been included. So-called of Superintendence of N. E. A,, The demonstration experiments have been Nat. Educ. Assoc., 1201 Sixteenth St., omitted as more suitable far a teacher's N. W., Washingon, D. C., 1928. 584 handbook than for a laboratory manual. pp. with 53 tables. 15.5 X 23 cm. The hook is issued in both the hound $2.00. form and the looseleaf form. The latter This volume is but one of a series of would, perhaps, be more readily adaptable for use with other tents than the author's year hooks, which have emanated from High-School Chemistry which this manual the same source, upon curriculum conwas written to accompany. By making struction. Former titles are: Elementary suitable change in the order of experi- School Curriculum; Research in Conments, this manual might be used with any structing Elementary School Curriculum; of the usual high-school texts in elemen- The Nation a t Work on the Public School Curriculum; and The Junior High-School tary chemistry. The experiments offered are those usual Curriculum. "The Development of the HighSchoJL t o the beginner's course and include little that is new or markedly different. But Curriculum" is the work of twenty-four the experiments are well thought out, the committees. The first twelve chapters directions are clear snd simple, and the deal with twelve outstanding issues which questions are intended to direct the stu- all local school systems must face before dent's attention to essential points in the entering upon an extensive program of procedure or to stimulate thought on the revision of secondary school curriculum. Among these chapter titles are: The Needs matter in hand. Some teachen would, doubtless, wel- of American Youth; Objectives of Seconcome more experiments on applied chem- dary Education; Curriculum Problems of bibliography, selected and annotated, adds to the value of the work. S. R. PoWBns
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the Small High Schwl; The Appropriateness of HighSchool Courses for Pupils Not Going t o College; The Relationship between High School and College; Differentiation of Curriculum for Pupils of Different Levels of Ability; and The Junior College Curriculum with Special Reference t o Orientation Courses. Part II-Research in Secondary School Suhiects-ontains eleven chapters dealing in turn with outstanding investigations of curriculum material for: swial studies; English; mathematics; science; modern and foreign languages; Latin; music; art; home economics; industrial subjects; and commercial subjects. Part 111 consists of thirty pages devoted to Health and Physical Education in Junior and Senior High Schools. The preface cautions the reader that will have t o he "material presented . interpreted in the light of different conditions found in communities of varying size." Throughout the volume the reader should bear in mind the committee's definite policy that "none of the conclusions are presented with finality." Suggestions are given and each community is urged t o solve its own problems as far as possible. T o one who is a t all conscious that our curriculum is still evolving this volume is both stimulating and helpful. B. CLIPRORD HZNDRICKS OB NEBRASKA UNITERSITY
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Course of Studv in Chemistw for the ~uhlishedby the Senior High &ool. State Department of Public Instruction of New jersey, 1928. 67 pp. 23 X 15.5 cm. This report includes the following topics: Outline of Subject Matter, Terms, Chemical Equations, Experiments, A Few Suggested Demonstrations, Reference Materials, The Place of the History of Chemistry in a HighSchool Chemistry Course, A Brief Statement of the Main Theories Included in the Suhject-Matter Outline. The State Department of Public Instruction of New Jersey had two purposes far issuing this publication: (1) to set stand-
ards of work of secondary grade in this science, and (2) t o outline a field of chemical science that will serve to make the community more intelligent in and appreciative of the benefits of this branch of knowledge. The objectives which guided the committee in preparing this outline of the chemistry course are stated as follows: (1) T o provide an opportunity, as a basis of good citizenship, for pupils to become acquainted with some of the applications of chemistry t o home and community life, commerce, trades, and the professions. (2) To provide pupils with a broader appreciation and understanding of the world in which they live. (3) T o provide opportunity for gaining chemical knowledge which will contribute t o individual and community health. (4) To provide opportunity for training in the scientific method of thinking through the study of real chemical problems. (5) To provide pupils with a substantial foundation, so that the study of chemistry may be profitably continued if desired. (6) T o provide an opportunity for thinking and imagining in scientific terms, t o the end that the pupil may come t o a decision as t o whether chemistry offers for him a field for vocational activity. (7) T o provide interests which may function in a more worthy use of leisurr time. This publication contains many valuable suggestions and useful material for high-school chemistry teachers. M. W. G. Chemical Treasures of the Forest. Lours E. WISE, Prof. of Forest Chemistry a t The New York State College of Forestry, Syracuse, N. Y. Reprinted from American Forests and Forest Life,The Magazine of The American Forestry Assoc., Washington, D. C. 30 X 23 cm. 28pp. The seven papers contained in this haoklet have the following titles: (1) Wonder Burners of Wood; (2) Knights of the Paper Trail; (3) Spinners of Wood; (4) Twilight of the Natural Dyes; (5)
