SCHOOL SCIENCEANU

MATHEMATICSVOL. LXVIOCTOBER, 1966WHOLE No. 585

C^dlfor^ f^aae

I Thought I Swallowed a Bonfire

A story that is unearthed on many occasions is that of a statesenator who introduced a bill into the hopper to establish TT as 3.0000instead of 3.1415+. Although his gesture in one fell swoop abolishedthe wheel and associated objects, his heart was in the right place. Hehad evidence to show that the less complicated calculations with3.0000 would save the state about $100,000 per year.A similar incident of scientific idiocy recently plagued the State of

Michigan when reports of Unidentified Flying Objects emerged fromtwo of the southeastern counties. The matter was particularly dis-turbing when a colleague waved a newspaper before the editor inwhich there was a statement from a legislator. The legislator wasdissatisfied with a report explaining the alleged UFO’s and called fora full-blown congressional investigation. It was indicated that AirForce investigators "have come up with nothing conclusive" foryears and a study by a congressional committee would be "a verywholesome thing." The irate colleague indicated his ulcers hadgotten so bad, "he thought he had swallowed a bonfire."At this time the Editor would like to express his apologies to Dr. J.

Alien Hynek of Northwestern University, an outstanding astrophys-icist, and top advisor to the Air Force on UFO’s for this reaction toone of the many wild goose chases to which he seems eternallydoomed. Unfortunately, scientific nit-wittery is not confined to legis-lators. The luminescent marsh gas phenomenon, so adequately de-scribed by Dr. Hynek, made small impression on many. A civilian

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defense director rejected the explanation since the investigator "side-stepped" mention of the report from two coeds that they saw theUFO closeup as it swept by a dormitory window. A local discjockey queried the report of marsh gas by indicating that he livednear marshes all his life and never heard about marsh gas. He alsosneered at the idea that marsh gas could "blink on and off."Now that catharsis "has been had," the Editor wishes to suggest

that situations such as these reflect greatly on science teaching fromthe kindergarten to the university. It is true that the "birds, bees andflowers" of the elementary science of three decades ago has small im-pact. But, it is doubtful that preoccupation with "taxonomies oflearning objectives," "Mr. 0.," or "elements of a system" can domuch to develop scientific literacy. In fact, they may even foster"mumbo-jumbo."Maybe it^s time to aim science teaching at the study of the environ-

ment rather than to rush pell-mell into the scientific pseudo-com-munities concocted by many well-meaning visionaries.

Again, Dr. Hynek, our apologies.

GEORGE G. MALLINSON, Editor

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