C. Trends in High School Chemistry

Abstract

In this article, Mr. Jaffe discusses some of the recent, current, and future trends in the instruction of chemistry in high schools. He begins his discussion with an analysis of the forces which tend to produce these changes—forces such as changes in college requirements, the decline of a psychology based on mental discipline, the increasing scope of chemistry, and the growing social significance of chemical processes and products. Among the changes which are discussed are the emergence of the applied chemistry course, the struggle between classroom demonstrations on the one hand and individual laboratory experimentation on the other, trends in high- school chemistry textbooks, and new developments in the historical approach to teaching and learning chemistry.