MARCH 18, 1921]

placed by a group method" in which each pupil followed a line of investigation for himself. The results of the three years' experiment he states in the following terms: "and as the course continued, the method seemed to them (the students) increasingly desirable and successful." It seems pertinent to enquire how this was determined. Would it not be possible to present the evidence in favor of this type of work in a more concrete way? In fact, if such an investigation is to be a real contribution to the science of science teaching, must the evidence not be presented in a more concrete way?

To

It is not the aim of the present article to question the value of the article mentioned. It is its ambitious title that challenges criticism. The average science teacher, even the university teacher, is not yet aware of the fact that the science of science teaching must proceed in exactly the same way that other sciences have proceeded. The science teacher must awake to his pedagogical problems, these problems must be clearly defined and we must proceed to their solution by the patient accumulation of facts, formulation of tentative hypotheses, discovery of additional facts frequently by experimental methods, and on the basis of such facts we must reason to the correct solution of the particular problem. get at the desired facts methods must be devised for the evaluation of processes, for measurement of results and these results must be capable of accurate mathematical expression. Imagine a chemist who is investigating the problem of the economic production of some industrial product presenting his results to a scientific body with the statement that the method seemed to them (the workmen) increasingly desirable and successful" and having back of that statement no facts which he could present, no data to convince his audience. I am not criticizing Mr. MacArthur's statement. To make even such an indefinite statement is a valuable contribution at present to the methodology of our science instruction, but it shows the pitifully small progress that has been made in the science of science teaching. Until the science teachers of the coun

try realize that pedagogy is a science, problems of science teaching are cl definite and must be solved as all problems have been solved, we can ma progress in our science instruction.

Mr. MacArthur would make the ch of science instruction the development ative thought or the ability to think s ally, and this not only in the graduat but in the elementary school.

It is equally important that the beginni science be taught by the scientific method graduate work be so carried on. For t years in any science should be given la discovery and original research, as are t years of childhood. Thinking and first-h tact would better come early, else they m

come.

Personally I heartily endorse thi ment. The discovery of the importanc scientific method of thinking and its tion to the problems of life is one of t if not the greatest contribution of sci the life of mankind and it is the great tribution that science teaching can the life of the individual. Yet in a thirty-eight principals and superint this last summer to whom was submitt of aims of the elementary science of t school with the request that they numb in order of importance, this matter o ing students in the scientific method of ing was placed nine in the list of ten indicates-much additional data is 1 to prove it-what I believe is the gen pression among the executive officers secondary schools that training in s thinking is a relatively unimportant t science instruction. Indeed science inst is not deemed a matter of great imp Less than half the high schools of (48.5 per cent.) require any science fo uation. In 18.8 per cent. of them the ment is satisfied with one half year of

ogy.

Is it not high time that the science of the country be organized into a association

252

(a) to enlist in active propaganda to impress the community at large and the educational fraternity in particular with the importance of science instruction; (b) to discuss and agree upon the aims of science instruction, their relative importance, and proper grade placement; (c) to discuss and agree upon the principles of selection of the subject-matter for the curriculum and the placement of this subject-matter in the various levels of the school;

(d) to stimulate accurate scientific investigations along the above lines and also in the methods of teaching science; (e) to devise tests to determine in how far we are succeeding in accomplishing the desired aims of science teaching by the methods in vogue;

(f) to employ a national secretary for part time at the outset and ultimately for all of his time who would extend the influence of the organization, make it efficient and coordinate the work of individual investigators along the above lines.

ELLIOT R. DOWNING

THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE STATE OF

WASHINGTON

THE PRESERVATION OF NAT

uses.

THE Ecological Society o mittee on the Preservation tions has been listing and with original flora and fau desirable for reservation f poses, and is now just ente extensive field work, with joint chairman added. The men in charge are as follows Shelford, University of Illi (senior chairman, research is continuing preparation is to serve as a manual with sections on the care, R. B. Miller, state Ill. (chairman, publicity st wishes to enlist the cooperat zation interested in science province. Dr. F. B. Sumn tution, La Jolla, Calif. (ch tion of research interests) union of research interests as represented by scientific s and universities, into an org vide needed funds. C. F. Forest Service, Ogden, Utah ural Areas in National Fo on the selection of suitab which may be set aside wi national forest. Those hav areas preserved suitable for

Washington; ool, Belling d Dr. Walter vey, the last

of the work antwell contudies in the of the Ca

e and Mar

e fauna and marked, and mpleted, maficant treatnsect. It is

n the state

ONDITIONS ica's Comral Condiing areas erved and

tific purthe more additional work and sor V. E. bana, Ill lication)

st which al areas ent and Urbana, ization) organi

cate and

s Instiganizag on a

areas, useums. to proC. S.

Nat

orking

areas

isting

ge of

n, es

pecially those who have studied special areas, are requested to communicate with V. E. Shelford at once as the list is soon to be completed.

SCIENTIFIC LECTURES AT OTTAWA

MEMBERS of the Department of Mines, Canada, are giving in the auditorium of the Victoria Memorial Museum, Ottawa, lectures as follows:

March 4: "The building of the continent," by D.
B. Dowling, geologist.

March 11: "The anthropological field in Canada,"
by Dr. Edward Sapir, anthropologist.
March 25: "Zoological work in Canada," by R.
M. Anderson, zoologist.

April 8: "A recent chapter in the geological his

tory of Canada" (illustrated with slides of the Greenland Ice Cap), by Edward M. Kindle, paleontologist.

February 12: "The fur-bearing animals of Canada," by Clyde L. Patch.

February 19: "The birds of Bonaventure Island" (with motion pictures), by Clyde L. Patch. February 26: "The Canadian Arctic coast," by K. G. Chipman.

March 5: "Wanderings with the Eskimo," by D. Jenness.

March 12: "Roads to wealth in our northern forest, or mineral development in northern Ontario" (with motion pictures), by T. L. Tanton. March 19: "Hunting giant dinosaurs in the Badlands of Alberta," by Charles M. Sternberg. March 26: "Ottawa three times submerged and how we know it" (with motion pictures), by M. E. Wilson.

April 2: "Conquering the desert with irrigation"

(with motion pictures), by Harlan I. Smith. April 9: "Asbestos or fireproof cotton" (with motion pictures), by R. Harvie.

April 16: "My summer among the Ojibwa Indians," by F. W. Waugh.

66

April 23: The frogs, salamanders and snakes of Ottawa," by Clyde L. Patch.

THE RESIGNATION OF PROFESSOR FLINT YALE UNIVERSITY announces the resignation on account of poor health of Dr. Joseph Marshall Flint, professor of surgery since 1907, to take effect at the close of the present university year. Dr. Flint is planning to go to

his home in California after commence The following resolutions have been pass the faculty of the medical school:

The faculty of medicine have learned wit regret of the resignation of Dr. Joseph M Flint from the chair of surgery, which he ably and faithfully filled since 1907.

Coming to this university with a broad an ough scientific training, and with high idea Flint became the original full-time profess has done great service both by precept and ample, in upholding high standards of te research and practise.

He has always shown great tenacity of I and devotion to principle. Whatever suce Yale School of Medicine may have in the will have been made possible by the loyal steadfastness of Dr. Flint and Dr. Blumer joint service at a time of great stress succe tiding over the crisis that economic conditio new developments in medical education had

on.

The faculty desire to place on record the appreciation of Dr. Flint's services to the sity, to the nation and to science, and to their keen sense of loss at his leaving. Th him full and speedy recovery of health and measure of success in his future work.

THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF RA

TELEGRAPHY

AN American Section of the Intern Union of Scientific Radio Telegraph been formed and has adopted a const which provides:

1. The American Section of the Inter Union of Scientific Radio Telegraphy shall of an executive committee and of the mem the technical committees provided for in par 2 and 3 below.

2. The executive committee of the A Section shall consist of the chairmen of visions of physical sciences and of engine the National Research Council (ex offici member each of the following: The Ar Navy, the Department of Commerce, the Ins Radio Engineers; four members at large t pointed by the president of the National A of Sciences; and (ex officio) officers of th national Union of Scientific Radio Telegrap dent in the United States.

3. The duties of the executive committee shall be: To act as the representatives of the United States in the International Union of Scientific Radio Telegraphy in the interim between its regular meetings; to organize the American Section, including its technical committees, and to arrange for a meeting of the American Section shortly preceding each regular meeting of the International Union; to select delegates to the meetings of the Union; and in general to deal with all scientific radio questions involving the participation of the United States. The chairman of the executive committee of the American Section shall be a member (ex officio) of the Division of Foreign Relations of the National Research Council.

The first officers of the section are:

Chairman, Louis W. Austin,

Corresponding secretary, Augustus Trowbridge, chairman, division of physical sciences, National Research Council (ex officio).

Technical secretary, J. H. Dellinger.

Executive committee, Louis W. Austin, U. S. Navy; Comfort A. Adams, chairman, division of engineering, National Research Council; E. F. W. Alexanderson, Radio Corporation of America; J. H. Dellinger, Bureau of Standards; Alfred H. Goldsmith, editor, Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers; F. B. Jewett, Western Electric Company; A. E. Kennelly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Major-General G. O. Squier, chief signal officer, U. S. A.; Lieutenant-Commander A. Hoyt Taylor, U. S. Navy; Augustus Trowbridge.

The following have been appointed chairmen of technical committees:

Committee on Static, Dr. Austin.

Committee on Transmission, Dr. Kennelly. Committee on Physics of the Electron Tube, Dr. Jewett.

Committee on Radio Interference (not yet appointed).

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS DR. C. L. ALSBERG, chief of the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture, has been appointed director of the Food Research Institute which is to be established at Stanford University by the Carnegie Corporation. He will assume his new work on July 1.

DR. EDWARD LAURENS MA years instructor and profess anatomy at Harvard Univ from active teaching at the and has been appointed H anatomy emeritus.

DR. ROBERT F. RUTTAN, h ment of chemistry, McGill been appointed to succeed MacCallum, as administrat the Advisory Council for S dustrial Research in Canada

DR. CHARLES W. RICHARD honorary degree of doctor of from the George Washingtor

THE University of Cambri its doctorate of laws to Sir of the London School of Tr and Dr. Albert Calmette, of t Institute.

SIR W. H. BRAGG has been of the London Physical Soc presidents who have filled th dent are Dr. C. Chree, Profes dar, Professor R. B. Cliftc Glazebrook, Sir Oliver J. Loc H. Lees, Professor A. W. Rei Schuster, Sir J. J. Thomso C. V. Boys.

WE learn from Nature that anniversary of the discovery effect" will take place on Oct committee has been formed b in Holland to mark the occa their appreciation of the im discovery and of the distin which Professor Zeeman has ence. It is intended to rais placed at his disposal for reser ducted in the physical labora versity of Amsterdam.

MR. GEORGE L. HARRINGT turned from South America, been engaged in private wor work in the Alaskan Divisio Geological Survey. He has 1 South America.