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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 2 Girls Burned During Chemistry Experiment At High School In The Bronx
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 10:31:56 AM
Author: Samuella Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu> 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 2 Girls Burned During Chemistry Experiment At High School In The Bronx
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2018 11:04:07 -0500
Author: Alan Hall

From: ILPI Support <info**At_Symbol_Here**ILPI.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 2 Girls Burned During Chemistry Experiment At High School In The Bronx
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2018 10:36:35 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 2067B702-37FF-4797-8907-70179CFDC4F1**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com
In-Reply-To <1109037139E1524980CF9CBEB2476618010B2F3AD4**At_Symbol_Here**UMF-EX10EMB1.umflint.edu>


Because a significant number of high school science teachers have little to no science background and, of course, understanding of hazard and risk assessment.  One would expect the number varies by school funding/affluence as well.


https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2017/2017056.pdf 

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=58

https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/06/08/many-stem-teachers-dont-hold-certifications 
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-out-of-field-teachers-20140806-story.html
I once consulted on a case I've mentioned here before where a middle school student lost an eye because his science teacher (who had ONE science course in college) thought building CO2 bottle bombs (a felony) was a pedagogically useful exercise for demonstrating sublimation.

Dated statement from that third link above; hopefully the numbers have improved since:

Luce says the problem is most prevalent in middle school, where more than two thirds of math teachers aren't qualified to teach the subject, a 2007 report by the National Academies shows. Only 1 in 10 middle school physical science teachers have a degree or certification in the subject, according to the same report. "That's when you lose a kid's interest," he says. "They don't even want to try in high school because they think, 'I didn't like this in middle school.'"

On top of all that, certification does not measure whether the instructor has any common or professional sense/competence. That's true of any field, of course - law, medicine, auto mechanic, etc.

Rob Toreki

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On Oct 6, 2018, at 9:43 AM, Wilhelm, Monique <mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**UMFLINT.EDU> wrote:

I'm confused.   Since when does the carbon snake require alcohol. And why would high schoolers be using con sulfuric acid?



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone


-------- Original message --------
From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Date: 10/6/18 8:14 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] 2 Girls Burned During Chemistry Experiment At High School In The Bronx

I'm sharing this with the list as it's possible that CHAS members may be asked about this kind of event by people who hear of it by rumor.

- Ralph

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/10/05/girls-burned-in-the-bronx/

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -Two teen girls suffered third degree burns when an experiment they were working on in chemistry class caught fire in the Bronx Friday.

It happened at around 1:40 p.m. at Morris High School on Boston Road in the Morrisania section.

According to officials with the FDNY, the students were making a carbon sugar snake. The experiment involves using alcohol, and while the experiment was underway some vapor escaped and made contact with the flame that was being used to create the snake, officials said. Flames shot across the table, causing burns to the face, hands and hair of two girls, 15 and 17.

"=46rom what I saw her arm was on fire, her sleeve," one student said. "When I saw her running down the hall that's what I saw."

Investigators say a teacher was in the room at the time, but it's not immediately clear how a chemical was able to get close enough to a flame for this to happen.

After the ordeal students were allowed to gather their belongings and go home for the day. Even though their classmates are expected to recover, it has many feeling shaken.

"FDNY and EMS immediately responded to this serious incident, and students are in stable condition being treated for non-life threatening injuries," said Miranda Barbot of the Department of Education. "The safety of our students is our top priority, and FDNY is conducting a thorough investigation. The lab will be out of use until it is completed."

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