Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
SCIENCE TEACHING
CHANGE IS URGED
Appreciation, Not Mere Law,
Should Be School Goal,
Educator Says.
BY HI. III. SHELDON,

Professor OF Physics, new YORK UnlVerslty'
The science teachers of New York are
not, by the admission Of their own lead
ers, doing the job which they have set
for themselves to do. This was brought
out, and well backed with statistics, ct
recent meeting OF these teachers: II
this is true in New York 1t Is doubtless
true in most parts of the country. This
would appear to be q deplorable state
Of affairs II we did not know what the
goal of these teachers is.
But the goal Is set so far ahead OF
the teaching Of but q few years ago, or
perhaps even Of today, that 1t Is dtfncult
to believe that more than q small per-
centage of the teachers have clear
concept Of what the goal really Is. II 1t
can be realized in our high schools, we
are in for a period of scientific appre-
citation by the public, such as has never
been experienced. It is the purpose of
the high school teachers of New York
to educate their students concerning the
relations Of science to everyday life.
Much Blamed ON Science.
Now, this may seem like q perfectly
logical thing for them to do, yet 1t Is
doubtful If 1t Is being done in more
than o small percentage Of the high
schools Of the country today. Certainly,
If it is, it has begun not SO recently as
to have been heard of by but few. The
attitude of the public toward science is
not such as to suggest that this objec-
tive has received much attention. In
general the public has but little concep-
ton of what is meant by the term
science.
We hear the fear frequently expressed
that science will make robots Of us all
through the results Of its standardiza-
lions. We are all shaving with the same
kind Of razor, driving the same make Of
car, listening to the same kind Of radio.
There Is no reason why all this should
be blamed on science. It IL founded
more upon economic reasons than upon
scientific ones.
Discovery Of Facts Chief Mission.
It is primarily the business of science
to seek out and tabulate the truths.
This sometimes makes it valuable to the
individual who wishes to standardize
an object of commerce. Science may
be able, through its logical method, to
find out just how 1t may be standard
lied. But there is no more reason to
fear science in this respect than to fear
history. After all, the history Of the
product may be q greater determining
factor in the Standardization than
science.
The difficulty lies in that the public
does not know what science Is. It does
not know its capabilities or its limits
The place to remedy this defect Is un-
questionably In our schools. It will
not be done by our present method OF
teaching. In our high schools the stu
dents have not yet chosen q vocation.
There is but little reason why, at this
stage, they should be taught bare facts
They should be taught the meaning OF
these sciences In relation to everyday
life. When they have entered college
when they have decided to become doc
tors, engineers or teachers, then it Is
soon enough to teach them the facts
which they must know to carry on the
profession which they have chosen.