734 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 802 



clearer if the confined gas be reduced to 

 approximately a half, a third, or a quarter, 

 than if a smaller or a more closely accu- 

 rate measurement be attempted. 



3. The Formula. — Over and over I find 

 pupils using formulas and securing cor- 

 rect answers to problems without any 

 definite comprehension of the meaning of 

 the formula, the principles and phenomena 

 involved, or of the answer obtained. I 

 might give many illustrations drawn from 

 experience, but he is a fortunate and an 

 excellent teacher who can not secure illus- 

 trations by asking his own pupils for ex- 

 planations in clear, understandable, every- 

 day English. Teachers do not appear to 

 realize that a formula is an instrument to 

 save thinking, and that its use very soon 

 becomes purely mechanical, as in the case 

 of any rule-of-thumb process. In the 

 hands of a beginner it is a dangerous tool 

 if he is expected to become an intelligent, 

 independent man rather than a mere 

 workman. 



4. Technical Terww.— These employed 

 to the usual extent are the most dangerous 

 of all instruments in their possible effects. 

 More time is wasted in science classes in 

 mere dictionary work than one can realize 

 unless he has had opportunity for extended 

 observation. Instead of starting with the 

 phenomenon, the thing itself, and gradu- 

 ally reaching a point of understanding 

 such that a single word may be used in- 

 stead of a group to express a thought and 

 still keep the thought in mind, the teacher 

 is all too likely to begin with the technical 

 word and attempt to work backward in 

 getting at the idea. Here again is the fail- 

 ure to understand that the symbol is a 

 time-saving device, and that it is utterly 

 useless without the clear idea always back 

 of it. The accumulation of the mass of 

 technical terms in the most of our second- 

 ary science teaching is almost appalling, 



and it is no wonder that so many pupils 

 emerge at the end of the study in the be- 

 wildered condition indicated by the ex- 

 amination tests. 



Physics is a study most wonderful in its 

 possibilities, and I sincerely hope that in 

 the near future the work may be so modi- 

 fied that its usefulness will appeal to our 

 students so strongly that we may be able to 

 resist the demand that it be made an 

 optional study. 



The average American young person is 

 very unwilling to give up what he consid- 

 ers his birthright, the opportunity for a 

 higher education; and he submits to much 

 that is distasteful and to much which he 

 instinctively feels is inappropriate or use- 

 less rather than to forfeit a chance of satis- 

 fying what may be an ambition in the 

 future. Must it continue necessary, in 

 order to fit for college, that the four great 

 instruments for giving that preparation 

 shall continue to be "Instruments of Con- 

 fusion ' ' 1 



H. L. Teret 



State Department of Education, 

 Madison, Wis. 



THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT 

 NEEDHAM 



Dr. Charles W. Needham has resigned the 

 presidency of George Washington University. 

 In his letter to the trustees he says: 



After eight years of service as president I ofifer 

 my resignation of this high office. This I do from 

 a keen sense of personal loyalty to the institution. 

 Difficulties have arisen which, in my own opinion 

 and in the opinion of some of my friends in whom 

 I have the greatest confidence, can only be solved 

 by a man coming to this office who can undertake 

 the task free from all connection with the past. 

 It therefore becomes my duty to make clear the 

 way for the appointment of such a man. 



In accepting the resignation the trustees 

 passed the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the resignation of Dr. Charles 

 Willis Needham as the president of this univer- 



