REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 17 



Chairman John C. Hessler, of the Committee on High 

 School Science and Clubs, gave a report on the year's 

 work as follows : 



Report of the Committee on High School Science and 

 Clubs, May 2, 1924 



The work of the committee for the year 1923-1924 has 

 been limited to two projects: (1) The preparation of a 

 program for the section of High School Science; and 

 (2) The making of a census of High School Science 

 Clubs in Illinois. 



The section meeting this afternoon will, as the pro- 

 gram indicates, consider Science Clubs and the "Human- 

 izing of High School Science". The thanks of the com- 

 mittee are extended to the men and women who have 

 consented to contribute a share of their time and interest 

 to this program. 



The census of High School Science Clubs was made 

 through a return postal-card questionnaire of 12 ques- 

 tions. The cards were addressed to 645 High Schools of 

 the state. Up to the present time 153 replies have been 

 received, two of them letters which go into details more 

 specific than the space on the cards permitted. This 

 means that about 500 of the 645 schools addressed made 

 no reply whatever. Of the 153 replying, 105 reported 

 no Science Clubs whatever; 16 reported no clubs at pres- 

 ent, but manifested interest in the possibility of forming 

 clubs; while 32 reported clubs at work. AVhen it is re- 

 membered that last year's committee sent out 625 eight- 

 page pamphlets, in which the desirability of High School 

 Science Clubs was stressed, and in which suggested pro- 

 grams for a. year's work were given, the progress of the 

 High Schools of the state in taking up science from the 

 amateur, as distinguished from the curricnlar point of 

 view, does not seem very rapid. This ought not to sur- 

 prise those who know the High Schools of the present 

 day and the appalling number of extra-curricular activi- 

 that occupy the student's interest and time. It is 

 barely possible that, as a result of the number of these 

 activities already existing, a great number of the pamph- 

 lets and postal cards sent out did not reach the teacher 



