I see a lot more of these lab accident oriented stories of late.
Are they actually increasing of is it just the reporting that is
increasing?
In order to teach Chemistry in Mass and RI - and I would hope all states - you
need a BS in Chemistry at the minimum.
I know that’s not true everywhere and as the shortage of science
teachers grows, could the use of Teach-for-America and other similar
teacher-replacement programs exacerbate this problem?
I’m concerned that the erosion of the teaching profession, in general, is going
to severely impact science education in this country.
— Chuck
On May 13, 2018, at 21:22, Cary Kilner (Redacted sender "carypq" for DMARC)
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Folks,
For all of my experience as a demonstrator, I simply do not understand what
goes on with these issues.
I read this and I went on Google and read several of these incidents.
Of course they are written by non-experts who, perhaps, leave important info
out.
I have used methanol and ethanol since 4th grade in my basement.
I have never had vapors creeping so as to produce an unexpected flash-fire.
What the hell do you think these teachers are doing?
In one case, a teacher doing the "whoosh-bottle" outside (good) in a gallon
container (no problem, as long as it's not glass or polycarbonate), let a
student ignite it when she couldn't.
Of course, he stood right over it (with goggles?) and when he lit it, the
"whoosh" shot straight up and burned his face.
I always ignite these with a match taped to a long wooden lecture-pointer.
Note, in one press-release, the superintendent ordered "no more experiments
with flames."
Talk about "throwing out the baby with the bath-water!"
Save us!
W. Cary Kilner
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Stepenuck <sstepenuck@xxxxxxxxx>
To: neact <neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, May 13, 2018 12:11 am
Subject: [neact] Some follow-up to 17 students and teacher injured in science
demo last week
From today’s ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety list [list “owner”
Ralph B. Stuart, Keene State College]:
Excerpt from full story at
http://www.wkrn.com/top-news/chemistry-safety-experts-warn-schools-to-stop-unsafe-science-demonstrations/1172474948
<http://www.wkrn.com/top-news/chemistry-safety-experts-warn-schools-to-stop-unsafe-science-demonstrations/1172474948>
