in each case increasing x by unity, the increments of y being the series of odd numbers, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, In this way we may determine as many points as desired and sketch the parabola, also making use of the fact that the curve is symmetrical with respect to the line x = -b/2. Case 2, b odd. We now use the graph of y = x2+5x+8 to illustrate this case. (See Fig. 2.) The ordinate of the vertex 134. Therefore, the vertex is at is c-(b/2)2 = 8-25/4 = Since the shape of the unit parabola is independent of b, we might start at the vertex as in Case 1, and locate successive points, but no point so determined would have integral coordinates. If, however, we start at the vertex and go to the right half a unit and then up one fourth of a unit, we locate a point B, Fig. 2, on our locus having integral coordinates. Then going from B one unit to the right and up two units we determine C. From C increase x by unity and y by four units to locate D, the increments of x, beginning with the point B, being unity and those of y being the series of even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, all points so located having integral coordinates. AN OUT-OF-DOOR SCIENCE CLUB FOR HIGH SCHOOL STU DENTS.1 By LEON D. PEASLEE, Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wis. It is a generally recognized fact that the more interest in his subject a teacher can instil in pupils, the better the results obtained. Moreover, there is usually a desire on the part of the pupil, as well as the teacher, to go more deeply into certain topics of interest than time will permit in the classroom. For this reason, various organizations such as science clubs, history clubs, English clubs, etc., have been formed in most high schools. As science club work is the object of this paper, clubs other than those dealing with science proper will be omitted in the following discussion. The writer has made a close study of high school and college science clubs for a considerable number of years and while he is firmly convinced that they are not only valuable but absolutely necessary for the proper teaching of science, still he feels that the difficulties under which most of these clubs operate 'Read before the Wisconsin Teachers' Association, November 2, 1916. do not permit of that one phase of natural science work which is, perhaps, the most important of all, the study of nature in the great out-of-doors: The membership of many clubs is made up of students from all the various science classes. Hence the average program must, of necessity, be of particular interest to certain groups of students rather than to the club as a whole. Moreover, meetings are almost invariably held after school hours; a time which is not overly conducive to student interest. There are, also, so many other things going on at this time, such as football, baseball and track team practice, recitals, business meetings, etc., that many members of a club that meets after school are bound to be absent. This is also responsible for causing many a good student to refrain from joining. Because of the varying interests of its membership, the usual time of holding meetings and other reasons which need not be mentioned here, we see, then, that the average high school science club does not make it possible for its members who are particularly interested in nature study to go deeply into subjects of especial interest or make much, if any, out-of-door study. With this point of view for guidance, the Educational Department of the Public Museum of Milwaukee organized in 1912 a science club for high school students which it hoped would offer to those who became its members an opportunity to go more deeply into natural history topics than either their school courses of study or their high school science clubs permitted, and to get out into the open to study nature first hand. The process of organization and the results obtained in this club are made the basis of this paper. Nothing is included or suggested that has not been tried out in this society, which is known as "The Milwaukee Science Club." As we have seen, it is useless to undertake an out-of-door club for high school students unless a suitable time for the same can be found. It is evident that it will be impossible to get the students to make field trips after hours upon school days, and, as Sunday is out of the question, Saturday alone remains. This, too, seems uninviting. Students who have been to school all the week are not inclined to enter into anything which looks like more school upon Saturdays, and besides, many find it necessary to work upon this day. Moreover, most all athletic contests, debates, entertainments and other amusements come either upon Friday evening or Saturday and at either time it would be a hindrance. In spite of all these objections, Saturday morning is about the only possible time for meetings, and as experience has proven it is quite satisfactory, we may set aside that difficulty and proceed to the problem of membership. Such a club will, of course, appeal only to a certain type of students. It will attract as a rule only those who are particularly interested in the natural sciences, and of these only those who have the time to spare upon Saturdays and who can see that what they are to do is to be far separated from school work. The question as to whether or not both boys and girls should be admitted to membership in the same club is one which will have to be worked out in the individual cases. It may be mentioned, however, that generally speaking it does not seem advisable. There is the possibility that the club will develop into a social organization instead of one mainly for the study of science, if both sexes are included. With those students who are entirely sincere in their desire for such work there is little danger of this happening, but there are many who would artfully deceive even themselves into believing they had an exceptional interest in science if, by so doing, there was to be obtained the privilege of taking weekly walks into the fields and woods with their friends. Then there must also be taken into consideration the fact that the young ladies are generally capable of less endurance than the young men, and in a club which spends most of its time outside, that while the one will seem to always be holding back, the other will invariably seem to be trying to overdo. It was this fact alone which resulted in the Milwaukee Science Club becoming one solely for boys. Long, all-day tramps, perhaps in the dead of winter, and even during severe snowstorms, did not appeal to the girls, and as it was not possible to arrange for two kinds of work to go on at the same time, they gradually dropped out. It is best to offer no incentive to obtain members other than the direct benefits to be derived. It so often happens that teachers excuse from examinations or give extra credit for such work in order to obtain members, and while this may serve its purpose, it attracts many who are not the best type of members, and tends to put a mercenary aspect upon the work even in the minds of the best students. There should be absolutely no relation between the club and the school through which the members might expect credit in any form from their teachers. Neither should there be any attempt to offer amusements to attract or hold them. Except in unusual cases, a sufficient membership may be obtained simply by the opportunity of congenial friendships and an easy way of getting valuable information by a process so far divorced from the classroom method that it becomes a pleasure and not a task. The selection of the new members should be very carefully carried out. Names may be suggested by the teacher or the members may be encouraged to scout out the desirable ones for themselves. In either case "the office should seek the man" and the club ought always to reserve the right to invite others to become candidates for admission. No one should be hastily taken in. The prospective member may be required to attend a considerable number of meetings (at least four) before his name is voted upon. During this time the members may have an opportunity to determine whether or not they consider him truly interested in the work of the club and a young man of desirable character, and at the same time he can determine whether or not he sincerely wishes to join. Although there is, of course, a desire to have as large a membership as possible, still it is advisable to limit the number in the club at any one time to approximately twenty-five. No absolute limit should be set, however, for in case this is done there is sure to turn up just when the full quota has been obtained some student who would make an exceptionally valuable member. With many more than the above mentioned number the club becomes unwieldy in the field, and the members cease to obtain the element of personal association with and instruction from the advisor. There is another problem of membership which will appear as soon as the club becomes well established, and that is, that many of the students who join when they are taking science work will wish to continue as active members while they are in school. A slogan which should always be encouraged is "Once a member always a member." It takes more than one year for the club to have its greatest influence upon the students, so the organization should be perfected in such a manner that it will hold its members as long as they are in the school, and even after that they should always be welcome. With a membership made up of students perhaps from all four classes, it is true that a certain number who might wish to join will be ruled out. Still, if the results to be obtained are to be as far reaching as possible, the number must of necessity be lim ited. As there is no relation between the club and class work, there is no obligation to take in any more members than are desired, and consequently only the cream of the science students need be selected. It will soon become an honor to be a member of such a select society and no difficulty should be experienced in obtaining just the members desired. Once the club is well under way, it is best to definitely organize according to recognized customs. A constitution vesting the entire control of the organization in the hands of its members should be adopted and officers chosen. Officers are best elected for a term of one year and should not be eligible to reelection to the same office. A short formal meeting held before each week's program will add to the dignity of the club. This may be either at the place of assembling or at some convenient point in the field. The club should have a definite object and this may well be stated in some expression which can be considered as a motto. The motto of the Milwaukee Science Club leaves no question as to the purpose of that organization. It reads: "Study and Preserve the Works of Nature, Not Destroy Them." After the officers have been elected and installed, the advisor should insist upon being considered simply as one of the members and claim no privileges not enjoyed by any of the others. In his position as advisor the members will naturally come to him for information they may desire, and while he always gives this freely, he should not use this influence unduly to control matters purely of club nature. Once the management of the club comes too directly under the influence of the advisor, it falls to the plane of the school society which is controlled, and often. presided over by teachers. Such a condition can be only detrimental. The kind of work which is selected and the way in which it is conducted has much to do with the success to be obtained. There is no end of interesting subjects which may be chosen and all may be treated in a way that will not savor of the classroom in any manner. In all this work there should be no attempt to require the actual memorizing of anything. All that is to be learned may be gradually acquired by the process of repetition. The members must be led to feel an interest in all nature, and whenever they come across anything which is at all out of the ordinary, or which they have not seen for some time, they will develop the habit of taking pleasure in calling attention to it |