PROBLEM 92

SELECTING THE STUDENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES

Problem: Superintendent Todd has requested the chemistry and physics instructors in the high school to suggest the space requirements for these sciences in the new high school building. Their report proposes radical changes which are not in line with the planning which the superintendent has been doing.

In the old high school building, there is a science suite consisting of two large laboratories with a lecture room between them. The lecture room is equipped with tablet-arm chairs arranged on tiered platforms running from the instructor's demonstration desk to the rear of the room. Classes in these sciences have each reported twice a week to the lecture room and for three double periods a week to their respective laboratories. The instructors find this work unsatisfactory; the division between lecture and laboratory work is too great, and the equipment is divided among too many places. The report of the instructors favored the type of equipment shown in Diagram 1. This diagram shows the space allotted for chemistry. The physics laboratory, according to the report, should occupy the same space and should contain the same type of equipment. The points in favor of this equipment, as presented by the instructors, were:

1. Economy in plumbing will result both in the original layout and in the maintenance program.

2. All the science work can be done by the student in one room and in one place.

3. Students face the instructor all the time.

4. Equipment provides adequately for comfortable work in a standing position, thus making it possible for the student

to write notes, make drawings, do reference reading, perform laboratory experiments, or observe demonstrations by in

structor.

5. Equipment permits instructor to give demonstrations and quizzes, direct reference work, and hold class discussions in the same room at any time during the science period, thus eliminating fixed laboratory and demonstration schedules.

6. Instructor can see the entire class from any location in the room.

7. The instructor's labor is reduced by concentrating all tools, materials, and equipment in a much smaller floor space than is usual in the design requiring separate lecture room and laboratory.

Superintendent Todd favors the type of provision shown in Diagram 2. In this case, each laboratory has a preparation room and a dark room, but the two laboratories have a lecture room in common. The superintendent's arguments are: 1. Lectures may be given without interference from laboratory work.

2. One class may be in lecture room while members of other classes may be working in the laboratory.

3. The lecture room will relieve pressure of utilization of laboratories.

4. The new plan presented by the instructors may present difficulties yet unforeseen. All difficulties confronting the traditional lecture room provision have already been met.

5. The old plan of single lecture periods and double laboratory periods cannot be carried out.

6. The freedom needed for laboratory work is allowed students under this plan.

Assignment

1. What should be the determining factors in making the choice?

2. What changes have taken place in science teaching in recent years? What effect does this have upon your decision?

3. Weigh the arguments of the instructors and of the superintendent. Which should have greater influence?

4. Analyze the space requirements in each case. What are the advantages falling to either plan?

5. Analyze the original costs of plumbing and the cost of plumbing maintenance.

6. Do you see advantages in either plan not listed above? 7. What decision would you, as superintendent of schools, make in this case?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CARPENTER, W. W. Certain Phases of the Administration of High School Chemistry. Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1925.

Catalogues of commercial firms dealing in science equipment.

DONOVAN, J. J. et al. School Architecture-Principles and Practices. Macmillan, 1921.

STRAYER, G. D. AND ENGELHARDT, N. L.

Standards for High School Buildings.

Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1924.