K-12 Schools operate at a very different level than universities and colleges. When teachers are hired they typically are the experts in their field, whether that is true or not. A mentoring system for new or inexperienced teachers does often not exist. One needs to question the education that science teachers receive. One also needs to question the type of teacher development offered to science teachers, if it is offered at all.
Continued accidents in middle and high schools science classes are highly worrisome, as we are continuously worried about accidents occurring in academic institutions. In contrast to academic institutions, though, no environmental health and safety system exists, nor is there input from experts that understand the science experiments these teachers try to demonstrate.
In my opinion, universities and colleges should be charged with helping school science teachers. After all, they educated the kids, we hope, will enter our academic labs. I am sure that none of the science teachers have caused their accidents out of maliciousness rather it was their ignorance.
Imke
Center for Laboratory Safety
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]On Behalf Of Leslie Coop
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 11:34 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Colorado methanol fire case
Perhaps someone should ask the school he went to why he wasn't taught chemical safety procedures.
On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 10:12 AM, Ralph Stuart <rstuartcih**At_Symbol_Here**me.com> wrote:
I was struck the story in this morning's headlines that the Former Colorado Teacher was charged with four counts of third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor in the methanol demonstration lab explosion that occurred last month.
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/22/former-teacher-charged-in-lab-explosion-that-injured-students/
This seems much more likely to set a precedent than the UCLA fire, which was based on labor law specific to California. I hope that people who are in Colorado will let us know how this case proceeds, as it's not uncommon for these stories to fall off the press's radar.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart
rstuartcih**At_Symbol_Here**me.com
Leslie Coop, MS, CCHO, CHMM
Chemical Hygiene Officer/ Stockroom Manager
Willamette University - 900 State Str - Salem, Oregon 97301
lcoop**At_Symbol_Here**willamette.edu - (501) 590-6026
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