There's actually a bigger lesson to be gleaned from this posting, and I believe ACS might be the organization to teach it.

Besides the obvious disregard for personal safety (I can't figure out if the teacher is wearing goggles or a pair of glassesÑregardless, if they are goggles, they are the wrong kind), the message here seems to be that science education is all about dazzling our students and putting on a show.  Even if this demonstration was appropriate for a K-12 setting, and was done with appropriate safety procedures in place, my first question to the teacher would be, "what is the learning objective, and how would you measure that objective?"

We've established that this demo is not safe.  However, it isn't science either.  It's entertainment.  One of the struggles the science education community deals with from all sides is the need to include safety education in with science education.  I tell my teachers that their lesson plans should always include a comment about how safety is ensured.  The trouble is, principals don't see the need for this, students definitely don't see the need for this, sometimes vendors of science materials don't see the need for this (although vendors are usually much more in tune with the safety message).  And teachers really believe if it worked 100 times before, it will always work.

I know everybody is perpetually busy, but if you have the ability and the time, I encourage you to visit a local school, and let the students, teachers, and administration know

1)   What science is all about in the "real world."  In many cases, it's not what they think, and

2)   Safer practice is not just a good idea or a poster slogan.  It is a culture, and if it's not nurtured, tragedywill strike sooner or later.

Eddie McGrath

Edward J. McGrath

Supervisor of Science

Red Clay Consolidated School District

1502 Spruce Avenue

Wilmington DE  19805

(302) 552-3768

We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors.  We borrowed it from our children.

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]On Behalf Of Monona Rossol
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 3:31 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Liquid methane experiment in class

Other than as an example, there is little value in punishing the person.  It is

much better to educate people in the error of their ways and turn them into

advocates for safety.  I do not know the individual involved but my guess is

that he is a popular, dedicated teacher who has nothing but the best of

intentions.  Would I ever do what he is doing?  No, I would not.  But he has

likely seen numerous examples of this being done and is not thinking about the

potential ramifications of his actions, not just to his class but to others who

see it and repeat it.  I would feel differently if the person insisted what they

were doing was safe and continued to do it.  What he is doing is one of those

examples of an act where you might get away with it hundreds of times before

something goes horribly wrong.  

Ken