The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-24
A Plea for a Physical La
boratory in the Public
Schools of Reyno1dsville.
BY AN ALUMNUS.

In time like the present, when the
public school system has evolved into
an organization which not only aims tC
control the education of the children
of our land, from the earliest stage o.
their development until the period o.
self sustenance, but also offers diver
sity of instruction along the line o
fundamental principals, in both the
trades and the professions. it fairly de-
serves the stamp OF University In
embryo. TIE school Of today, with
such cooperative accessories as labora-
tories, kindergarten, domestic science
and manual training departments, has
become more representative institu.
tion than when Arts and Sciences were
taught almost wholly by text. There is
a reason now in the prospective arti-
sans or tradesmen, as we'll as those
inclined professionally, remaining with
in the range OF general instruction
during the formative period of their
lives, for here we have placed before
the youth of practical inclination, a
a course of instruction, which If follow
ed out will not impair his bread-win-
ming qualities or handicap him in the
struggle for mastery in his trade, here
also is that general knowledge which
is so necessary In the following of any
profession. Then the school OF to-day is
one comprehensive In character and
democratic in spirit; comprehensive, In
that it offers curriculum which Is
designed for no special class. This
then is layman idea of what the
school of to-day represents. Let us ask
ourselves to what degree our schools
approach this idea? To me, it appears,
they approach the ideal OF success IN a
degree which is wholly compatible
with the finances at hand.
Assuming then, that the faculty and
directors In their official capacity have
given their best efforts to building up
and maintaining high standard for
our school; why cannot we, outside OF
the official nature OF the affair, offer
some help which will materially aid the
instructor In the presentation OF many
subjects which are new being taught
IN the schools.
The following suggestion is not of.
fered In competition, or on equality
with other branches, or idea, which we
know might be of great benefit to the
school, rather take it as being feasible
plan to improve the efficiency Of school
and the popularity Of certain sources,
at small outlay and along other lines
which are already in practice.
The means to the end is Physical
Laboratory. What is a Physical Lab
oratory, and what are its uses are per-
tinent questions and need demonstra
tion rather than explanation.
The subject Of Physical Laboratory
in our school is not new one. Those
who were enrolled in the science
courses, up to the time when our new
building and laboratory apparatus were
destroyed by fire, will remember, how,
with the meager facilities then at hand
the cold dry facts OF the text were made
interesting and clear by the use OF such
material as vacuum pump, electrical
apparatus, prisms, lenses, etc. There is
NJ more common or ever present phe-
nomona than the physical properties OF
ht At, ght, sound, electricity, magnet
ism and mechanical energy, and per-
haps there are no subjects concerning
which the popular notion is so far
from the true facts.
In presenting some of the features OF
such laboratory, that which can in
terest the people most is not an expla.
nation of the apparatus in detail. for
that would be as devoid OF interest as
teaching the science without the ap-
paratus, anc certainly would be futile
within the space allotted.
The most vital question is-wbat can
1t accomplish?
Were ! to say to some OF you, that
the pure white sunlight which shines
upon you each day is really composed of
innumerable shades Of color, that steam
is invisible, that without the medium Of
air we would have no sound, and that
an equal bulk OF lead and wool would
fall to the earth with equal velocity
were the resistance OF the air removed,
what discussion would be aroused?
However with proper demonstration,
just such truths are made clear to the
young and unframed mind at time
when fret and correct impression is
mcst valuable. There the prime OBJ