VOCATIONAL INFORMATION THROUGH CHEMISTRY Some time ago Mr. Graves, the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, issued a statement to the effect that Continuation Schools in New York are of a secondary nature. The question arises as to what subjects of a secondary nature can be taught in a Continuation School which will be of practical use to the boy in understanding some of the many processes used in industry. One of the purposes of the Continuation Schools is to guide the boy as much as possible by giving h i an idea of the diierent trades in order that he may make a choice of that which interests him most. A course given at the Brooklyn Boys' Continuation School is The Practical Chewistry Course. The object of this course is not to make chemists of the boys, but to give them an elementary idea of the different chemical processes used in industry. The course is given to the boys of the automobile class, so that they may understand the importance of chemistry to automobile manufacture. I t is a wen-known fact that chemistry today is the basis of industry but how many appreciate that fact? It is about time, I think, that chemistry from a vocational viewpoint should be stressed. By learning how important chemistry in industry is, a boy can appreciate much more the processes used in making a piston, a rubber tube, or a glass shield. The methods used in teachmg this subject are: the forum method, the
VOL.5, NO.12
CORRESPONDENCE
1673
concrete method, and the question-and-answer method. At each period the lesson is made as complete and independent a unit as possible. The topic and reference for subsequent periods are given so that each pupil may look up these topics and then discuss them in class. Demonstrations are used with the purpose of having the boys draw their own conclusions; i. e., to enable them to discern causal relationships and to realize the importance of doing things in a logical way. No laboratory work is given, the demonstrations being given by the teacher. The boys would, if laboratory work were given, he able to develop self-confidence in their ability and arrive a t independent conclusions. Typical Outline of a Lesson
Title: Making steel. Materials used and their geographic distribution: Iron ore from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; limestone from Michigan; coke from Pennsylvania and West Virginia; air preheated to 1500°F. Blast furnace method: ( 1 ) The structure of a blast furnace (this is described and shown by means of large sketches, and a furnace is shown charged with the above materials) ; (2) preheated hlast air received from heaters (here the chemical action is described); (3) collection of molten iron (pig iron) ; (4) disposal of the slag. Refining the molten iron (fag iron): Description, the heat required, purpose-dimination of excess carbon and impurities, separation of the slag from the steel, pouring off the molten steel into ingots. The importance and composition of the differentgrades of iron and steel as used in the automobile are also studied. J. F. PADULA 1x01 6 9 STREET, ~ ~ BROOKLYN. N. Y.
