As safety professionals, many of you have no idea of teaching at the precollege level. You are active in your field and your professional organizations. Putting
out a warning through ACS, AACT, NSTA, and any other organization does not reach every teacher.
Many, and I venture to say an overwhelming
majority, do not belong to these organizations, go to conferences, local meetings, or get these warnings through another source.
Many work in "isolation" in their classrooms, have been doing the same demonstrations and activities for years and have been lucky that mishaps have not occurred.
Proper safety equipment is not available in many schools.
Future teachers do not get safety education in their curriculum.
It's true that safety education is not a sufficient part of the courses they take, but they are not necessarily taking rigorous science courses. In many cases its some basic biology, physical science, geology, and Earth science.
They see some of these demonstrations on TV, online, or just learn them from another "uniformed" teacher. Often, the directions they given for those activities are incomplete without proper set-up and clean-up information and safety.
I understand Harry's comment about "pain of change", but those accidents "don't happen to me".
If an administrator does learn about those accidents, then they want to ban some or even all demonstrations and activities in the classroom. Proper safety education and the knowledge of properly handling chemicals and laboratory equipment is not seen
by them as a cure and preventative.
When I taught at a college where approximately 70% of the students were studying to be precollege, and mostly pre-high school teachers, I included safety with all
the demonstrations and activities I presented and taught.
I tried to change the science requirements, for all teachers, from 2 semesters to 4 semesters with special courses in chemistry, physics, biology, and geology-Earth science.
The education coordinator resisted any changes as, in that individual's opinion, the 2 semesters of science was sufficient.
I applaud all the individuals who have reached out to schools in their localities, states, and even across the country to provide guidance and safety training to
teachers. In my opinion, we still have a long way to go.
David
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David A. Katz
Chemist, Educator, Expert Demonstrator, Science Communicator, and Consultant
Programs and workshops for teachers, schools, museums, and the public
5003 Canby Dr. * Wilmington, DE 19808-1102 * USA
voice/fax: (302) 509-3282 * email:
dakatz45**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Visit my web site:
http://www.chymist.com
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