The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-07-10
MEETING IS HELD BY
SCIENCE Department
Many Matters of Vital Import
ance Discussed by the
Members.

AT meeting of the science depart
mcnt held yesterday morning at $3.50
clock i'll the Congregational church,
the committee on standardizing janltor
services, DR.. Helen C. Putnam of
Rhode Island, chairman, recommended
enlisting pupils cooperation in regu-
larly measuring and recording tempera-
turc, air currents, humidity and dustl-
ness rs the best method Of getting it
properly done, and the one method Of
educating the public in sanitary de-
tails, The committee also recommend
ed training and testing janitors and
their supervisors in sanitary care of
school premises. 1t was stated that
janitors salaries frequently exceed
those of teachers or principals.
The committee declared in the report
that the move for more practical SAM
tation in schools was the first step to-
ward reducing "school Diseases in
Guiding tuberculosis, which the present
dustiness, overhcating and stagnatIon
of air invites
Where Danger Lies.
That the chief danger in science in
struction lies With impractical in
structors, fresh from the college labora-
tory, who are likely to apply college
methods to high school conditions, was
the statement made by j. H. Worst,
president of the North Dakota State
Agricultural college.
In part he said:
The masses rather than the
classes are to be given most con
sideration since those who are to
perform the world IS work should
be raised, by means of public edu-
,,,Io
somewhat skilled laborers, The
better wages they will be able to
earn will give them sufficient com
mand of leisure to obtain self-cul.
ture and thus enjoy in larger meas.
ure the agreeable things Of life.
The instructor in science, therefore,
should have a knowledge Of and
be in sympathy with the practical,
everyday affairs of life to render
the most efficient service in
schoo.s Of secondary grade.
A knowledge of applied science,
a human interest in the lives that
most people live. and the ability to
promote knowledge that is of vital
interest to local community life
are qualities far too rare with
science instructors.
Wall of Tradition.
1.-THE Wall of Tradition as 1t Af-
fects the Teaching Of Science was the
subject Of the address by William Orr,
deputy commissioner of education,
Boston. In substance Mr., Orr said:
The teacher Of science is sub
iccted to at least two influences,
either of which seriously detracts
from the results Of his efforts. One
Of these influences is the force of
imitation whereby the instructor
is led to use the methods employed
IN the teaching of subjects the
material of which is composed of
symbols, of formulae and abstract
statements. This conformity 10
modes of instruction, which chief
ly consist IN training the learner
TO acquire, by memoriZing the
conclusions of others, is contrary TO
the chief aim and purpose of sci
ence teaching
Again. the teacher of science
finds it almost impossible to es-
cape from the spell of that con
ceptiou of learning. which he ac-
ouires in the class room in the
study of text and lecture notes.
This is the way in which he was
taught.
In all fairness. it must be said
that the best instruction in science
calls for employment of the meth,
od of memorizing. for the teach
ing of a BODY of deTinite facts,