Number of different subjects
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Totals
Group I
Grou I1
Group 111 (10fi)
Group IV
39.5 32.6 25.6
8.6 32.8 37.9 17.2 1.7 1.7
0.0 28.3 33.0 30.2
0.0 11.1
(43)
.. 2.3
.. .. 100.0
8
ts
4.7
..
2.8 0.9
99.9
99.9
(63)
25.4
30.2 25.4 6.3
1.6 100.0
Summary 1. The fundamental principles in the training of high-school chemistry teachers have been outlined. It has been shown also to what extent these principles are incorporated in the curricula of our colleges and universities. A brief statement is made of specific courses given in one leading institution. 2. Evidence is given to show that the majority of chemistry teachers must also teach other sciences. Other sciences should therefore be included in the program of teacher training. 3. Our leading universities are providing facilities for practice teaching under expert supervision. A. J. CURRIER, Chairman HENRIETTA HAYDEN N. HENRYBLACK A. E. MCKWNEY
THE PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHERS* The members of the committee appointed by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society, "To Seek to Arouse a Professional Spirit among High-School Chemistry Teachers as a Group" have each discussed and contributed to the following report. The Committee considers this a preliminary report and requests that members of the Division of Chemical Education and of the American Chemical Society think upon the possibilities of the work assigned to this Committee, which concerns not only high-school chemistry teachers but all other teachers of chemistry, and send suggestions to any member of this Committee. In view of the awakening of the public conscience to the importance of * Committee report, submitted to the Senate of Chemical Education of the A. C. S. at St. Louis, April 16, 1928.
chemistry and its great ramification throughout the fields of higher education, an unusual opportunity exists for a more general recognition of chemistry as a basic subject for those who wish to obtain the fullest advantage of college training. To meet this challenge it is imperative that the professional spirit of high-school teachers of chemistry be properly nourished. Some of the difficulties in this endeavor are: short tenure, inadequate pay, a teaching schedule in which chemistry is sometimes minimized, many cases in which science teachers are responsible for more than one subject, often incomplete equipment for experimental work, and too often the selection of teachers to teach chemistry who are not primarily interested in chemistry. Shall not the power of the Division of Chemical Education and of the American Chemical Society operate to lessen these difficulties and strive to help nourish the spirit of the high-school teachers of chemistry who touch the lives of many that may never again have an opportunity to study chemistry and, also, leave the imprint of their training on the minds of those that enter college? "Coats off for the spirit of those who rock the cradle of chemistry and thereby help to move the world onward, for there are still a great many people who do not seem to realize the basic significance of chemistry to an advancing civilization. To that end all teachers of chemistry should subscribe to the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION for the following reasons: First, the editorial policy is exclusively under the control of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society and the personnel of this Division is characterized by the very highest types of professional spirit specializing in chemical education; and secondly, the editorial st& and six departmental editors, and fifty-eight contributing editors seek diligently and intelligently to lift the essential problems bearing on chemical education into the clear consciousness of chemistry teachers, to present the best of what has been accomplished in the solution of such problems, and to make the JOURNAL a forum cordially opened for the solution of these problems and for the statement of new ones. Since the press is a recognized power in any movement why not use o w OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION? Suggestion! Please send the name JOURNAL of that high-school teacher of chemistry whom you know personally, to EDUCAMr. Wm. W. Buffum, Business Manager, JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TION,85 Beaver Street, New York, N. Y., with the request that a copy of the JOURNAL be mailed to your high-school friend and follow this with a letter to your friend stating what you have done. Why not also do that for some other friend in the glorious company of chemistry teachers? Again every teacher of chemistry should be affiliated with some educational organization devoted to the furthering of efficiency in the teaching
VOL. 5. No. 6
MINIMUMEOUIPMENT FOR HIGR-SCHOOL CRBMISTRY
749
of chemistry and in the diffusion of knowledge pertaining t o chemistry. To that end membership in the American Chemical Society is urged. Its semi-annual meetings, the monthly meetings of its local sections throughout the United States, its summer Institutes, and the various nation-wide associations of chemistry teachers under other control but strongly influenced by the same society make i t within the range of all teachers of chemistry to come in touch personally with the dynamic inspiration of such meetings. Another suggestion! Please send the name of that friend, who should be a member of the American Chemical Society to the secretary of that organization with the request that a blank for membership with the circular of information about the Society be mailed to that friend and follow that up with a letter to your friend stating what you have done. Why not be an active missionary in a good cause? LOUISW. MATTERN, Chairman CHARLES H. STONE HALWALTERS MOSELEY M.CANNONSNFED JOHN FULTON
MINIMUM EQUIPMENT FOR HIGH-SCHOOL CHEMISTRY* This committee was appointed about April 23, 192G, and originally cousisted of the following members: L. W. Mattern, Chairman; McKinley Training High School, Washington, D. C. R. H. Price, Phillips High School, Birmingham, Ala. J. H. Norton, Junior College, Sacramento, California J. P. McDermott, West High School, Weston, Va. J. H. Jensen, Northern Normal, Aberdeen, S. Dak. Professors Price and McDermott requested that they be excused from work on this committee as they are no longer engaged in school work. At the Philadelphia meeting Professor Mattern asked to be excused on account of other work. Hence, the present committee consists of Professor Norton and the chairman. It has been rather difficult to carry on this work, but with the reorganization of the committee we hope to make more rapid progress. A preliminary report of the committee was made a t Philadelphia based on a study of some 30 available lists of minimum equipment for highschool chemistry as issued by the 30 state departments of education. * Committee report, submitted to the Senate of Chemical Education of the A. C. S. at St. Louis, April 16, 1928.
