stroyed at the end of a semester. It was found necessary to do this in order to avoid copying. Miss Flynn thought the student should be allowed his laboratory problems at the end of the semester, as he very often used his laboratory book as a reference book. She had found this to be especially true of Normal girls. Mr. C. Recker, Columbus, Ohio, remarked that biology was not so stereotype a subject that different problems could not be used from year to year. Mr. La Rue, Ann Arbor, Mich., stated that very often the University required the laboratory book of a student, especially when they had no knowledge of the kind of science work being taught in the high school from which the student

came.

Miss Speilmeyer, Cincinnati, Ohio, asked Miss McClellan if material was supplied to the children for their school gardens, or if the children raised their own early plants. Miss McClellan said that the teachers had friends and certain people who raised plants by thousands in frames and these were distributed to the children at a very cheap rate. Very little was given them. The chairman stated that this general enthusiasm for gardening throughout the country was not only for emergency but for the future. That the biologist of today does not know enough about practical gardening. This general movement towards home and school gardening was of great value to the child, as it gave him an opportunity to become acquainted with living things. That there are quite a few biological facts which a child of twelve years ought to know. He then told about a city boy taking a biological study at college making a statement that he had never seen a toad, and that it was the height of his ambition to go on a field trip and catch one. Such people, said the chairman, were very hard to handle in high school as well as college.

The chairman asked for some experiences of those who made field trips an integral part of their biology course.

Mr. Sackett, St. Louis, said that he usually conducts such trips on Saturdays. That they are purely voluntary. That the trips are carefully planned and that the pupils know just what to look for. Besides enriching their biological knowledge, it gives them a wealth of material which they use in their English.

Miss McClellan said that six to eight weeks were devoted to the study of insects and therefore she conducts three field trips in the fall. On these trips the pupils are taught to catch and collect insects. In the spring she takes up bird study. For this she finds evenings and early mornings, say 4 a. m., very good. As a result of these trips, pupils come to know 75 to 100 birds.

Miss Flynn, Columbus, Ohio, said that the science teachers of Columbus are permitted to take each class one afternoon a térm on a field trip. That her classes always have their outlines ready and take notes in the field.

Since Mr. Gilbert had not agreed with Mr. Barber's statement that botany and zoology are losing out and within a few years will no longer appear on the course of study, the meeting was turned over to him.

Mr. Gilbert, Madison, Wis., said that as a matter of fact the colleges are up against it. English is the only study required. The pupil in selecting his course is not supposed to be advised. It is therefore in his Junior year that he sees the need of a biological study and then many inconveniences arise. Thus it is left entirely to outside forces to encourage the student in taking up a biological course.

Mr. Wells, Chicago, Ill., said that supposing the names of botany and zoology should be lost to the high schools, people nevertheless are not losing their interest in biological phenomenon but are studying botany and zoology under another system and name.

Mr. Gilbert said that botany has gained in Wisconsin. Schools that have never taught it before now teach it a half year.

Mr. La Rue remarked that the difficulty in Michigan has been that teachers have not been qualified to teach these subjects. Another reason is that colleges have not prepared the student to teach botany and zoology. It has offered an old stereotyped course, such as studying the hydra instead of some local animal, and does not solve at all any of the problems which a teacher would be apt to need in teaching biology. At present the University of Michigan is trying to make a course which will in time meet the demands of the biology teacher.

Mr. Wells, Chicago, Ill., said that he did not think that the lack of preparation and poor teaching on the part of the biology teacher forced the agriculture and domestic science teacher to teach biology because, as a fact, the poorest teaching was found among these.

Mr. Barber stated that he based his facts on those given him by the State School Commissioner of Wisconsin, and he ought to know.

Miss Cook, Springfield, Ill., said that general science increased the enrollment in zoology and botany in their schools.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was declared adjourned by the chairman.

ESTELLE FELDMANN,
Secretary pro tem.

MINUTES OF THE CHEMISTRY SECTION, CENTRAL ASSOCIATION SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS.

The Chemistry Section was called to order by Chairman Powers at 1:30 p. m.

In the absence of Secretary Ladd of Gary, Ind., Mr. A. C. D. Metzger of Columbus was chosen in his stead.

The chair appointed the following committees:
Nomination-Mr. Heilman, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Sharp.
Resolutions Mr. McCarty, Mr. Abells, Mr. Collins.
Critics Mr. Osborne, Mr. Smith, Mr. Williamson.

As there was no further business, the program as published was presented:

Prof. D. J. Demarest, Professor of Metallurgy, Ohio State University, read a splendid paper on "Special Applications of Chemistry in ShellSteel Manufacture." After a few questions and a very brief discussion by Mr. Sharp, Chairman Powers, Mr. Gullum and others, the next paper was called:

"Laboratory Notes in High School Chemistry," by Mr. C. J. Pieper, University High School, University of Chicago. As Mr. Pieper was not present, his paper was read by Mr. Gullum of Columbus.

The discussion was led by Charles M. Sharp, Shortridge High School, Indianapolis. He said among many other things that he had not read the paper beforehand and would thus present some of his own views rather than a discussion of Mr. Pieper's paper. The objective points in High School Chemistry are: 1. Feeling for the work; 2. To think logically; 3. To view clearly the thing in hand; 4. To accomplish something; 5. To reason out a conclusion; 6. To state definitely a problem; 7. (and most important of all) to show observations and state the conclusions correctly. The student should be able to state the proper conclusion when tabulating his data. The problem in notebook work is to give the student some definite or specific thing to do, not give a general problem like making oxygen, etc.

Further discussion by Mr. Smith: Also by Mr. Stouffer and Mr. Osborne:

Mr. Jones of Cleveland told of his method of grading, using large sheet of bristol board for checking up the pupils, so that both he and the pupil would always know whether the work were kept up or behind.

He also stated that no pupil could get an A if his work was late or there was even a misspelled word in his book. Several members stated that Mr. Jones was too rigorous in his grading and that by so doing he would often lose the most essential thing in the notebook work-a feeling for the subject instead of English only.

Dr. McFarland at this point complimented the many good things that were stated in the paper and expressed his appreciation of what many high schools are doing in the concrete way of engendering a feeling for the work and a genuine scientific spirit in the chemistry pupils. He showed from his experience some of the following things: Examining and dealing with: (a) Theses for degrees; (b) Managers of industrial plants; (c) Chemical problems.

In (a): (1) They do not state definitely their problems; (2) Do not get accurate records of their experimental work; (3) Fail to pick up essentials and reject the nonessentials; (4) Not able to combine the data and get practical conclusions. All this is important in the commercial world as in the laboratory.

In (b), standpoint of managers: (1) Lack of ability to make an accurate report; (2) Do not keep proper records so that they can make a clear, concise report.

In (c), problem courses: (1) Not able to choose the proper literature bearing on the problem; (2) Fail to use proper design and methods of recording and explaining the work. Here the student must work out his own data. He has no data given; (3) Here, again, he often fails to make out a satisfactory, clear, logical report. This is most important, and nowhere can a student get the habit of doing this as well as in the high school, when he is in the formative period of adolescence.

After a few remarks by the Chairman, Miss Jessie Caplin, West High School, Minneapolis, Minn., presented "The Chemistry Show," which displayed among many other things the following:

3. Some books: Modern Science Reader, Book of Fiction WO2, etc. 4. Pyrometer cones from pottery.

18. China, good and bad.

19. Mohair, wool, cotton, etc.

20. Many pictures, etc.

21. Hydrogen generator, etc.

Miss Caplin's illustrations and experiments were well received and she was asked to have her show again next year.

Ill.

Mr. Sharp showed:

1. Presolyte CO2 cylinders.

2.

Hoskin's alloys of alumel and cromel.

Mr. Jones spoke of his making liquid chlorine in field.

Meeting adjourned till next day.

Chemistry Section, Saturday, 9:30 a. m.

Chairman Powers called for reports of committees:

The Nomination Committee reported the following officers selected:
Chairman-F. B. Gullum, East High School, Columbus, Ohio.
Vice-Chairman-Raymond W. Osborne, Parker High School, Chicago,

Secretary-Miss Jessie Caplin, West High School, Minneapolis,

Minn.

The above were declared elected.

Mr. Osborne showed some samples of conservation of fats made into soaps by his pupils.

At this time Mr. Heilman and Mr. Mahaffey explained the field trips, time for starting, etc.

As there were no members of the other committees ready to report, the program was taken up as per schedule:

Mr. Rivet read a paper on "The Place and Importance of Chemistry in the High School Course"

Mr. Smith read a paper on "A Simple Method of Presenting the Atomic Theory."

In the absence of Dr. Bell, his paper was read by Mr. Powers. Subject, "A Study of the Attainments of High School Pupils in First Year Chemistry."

Dr. McFarland read a splendid paper on "The Work of the Amercian Industrial Chemist in War Time."

A brief discussion of Dr. McFarland's paper was participated in by Mr. Twiss in which he commended the paper and stated that teachers should show to their pupils (boys especially) the true and real value of chemistry, and give advice, i. e., vocational guidance, which is so much talked of nowadays.

Mr. Jones stated that they should be taught that the study of chemistry throws a strong light on industry. But not all are fitted to become chemists. Chemists are few. A boy must have chemical imagination plus a willingness to do good hard work.

After a few further remarks by Messrs. Smith, Abells, Dr. McFarland, et al., the remarks led to Dr. Bell's paper.

Mr. Jones spoke of the weakness of Dr. Bell's list of test questions. Mr. Osborne likewise criticized Dr. Bell's paper and suggested that it was not the sense of this body to accept his conclusions as anywhere near fina',

As the hour was late, the meeting simply drifted apart without any formal adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,

A. C. D. METZGER,
Secretary pro tem.

MINUTES OF THE PHYSICS SECTION, CENTRAL ASSOCIATION SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS.

Friday, November 31. The meeting was called to order by the temporary chairman, Mr. Charles T. Prose, of the Zanesville, Ohio, High School. Papers were presented by Mr. H. H. Reighley of the East Columbus High School, Prof. F. C. Caldwell of the Ohio State University, and Prof. J. A. Culler of Miami University. After a discussion of the papers, the following Nominating Committee was appointed by the chairman: Prof. F. D. Barber of Normal University, Normal, Ill.; R. H. Struble, Eastern High School, Detroit; Prof. George R. Twiss of the Ohio State University. Following adjournment the section visited the electrical engineering laboratories of the State University under the guidance of Prof. Caldwell.

Saturday, December 1. The meeting was called to order by the temporary chairman, Prof. J. A. Culler, of Miami University. Papers were given by R. O. Austin, formerly of the High School of Commerce, Columbus, Ohio, and by Franklin T. Jones, of the University School, Cleveland, Ohio. The remainder of the forenoon was given up to a discussion of these papers. The Nominating Committee presented the following names for the officers of the section for 1918:

Chairman-W. R. Aherns, Englewood High School, Chicago.
Vice-Chairman-Prof. F. R. Gorton, State Normal School, Ypsilanti,

Mich.

Secretary-Clyde H. Krenerick, North Division High School, Milwaukee, Wis.

These were unanimously elected. During the afternoon the members of the section visited the city water works and filtration plant.

A. BJORKLAND,
Secretary pro tem.

THE ALBERT TEACHERS' AGENCY.

The Albert Teachers' Agency of Chicago, which for the past fifteen years has been doing business at 623 S. Wabash Avenue, has moved its quarters to the New Kimball Building, 25 E. Jackson Boulevard. The constant increase in the business of the Agency has made this removal necessary. The Agency's new pamphlet, Teaching As a Business, contains interesting chapters on salaries as affected by the war, and much information of value to teachers and others engaged in educational work. Sent free to any address.

To bring its business nearer to many of its clients the Agency has established branch offices at 437 Fifth Avenue, New York City, under the management of S. A. MacKenzie; Spokane, Washington, C. R. Harmeson, Manager; and Denver, Colorado, John Girdler, Manager. These places have been chosen because they are large centers of population in which there are many good schools. The men at the head of these Agencies have had successful experience in the educational field and are believed to possess aptitude for Agency work.