The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

October, 193 5 Page 221 kind in the city, and this with three other large tele- scopes were in constant demand the entire evening by our friends who were looking at the moon, Sat- urn and Mars. Also an exhibit of sky charts, mod- els of the solar system and charts showing the ex- planation of the moon's phases were on display. The Psychology Department had probaljly the most unusual exhibit of the entire display. Various illusions, a demonstration of mind reading, charts illustrative of superstitions, and an explanation of habit formation with models and specimens of the ear and brain were there to be explained to our .visitors interested in the working of the mind. This ■department at first could not understand how it Eould find an}' material. One exhibit, the psychology of a necktie, caused I more comment than any one single exhibit. The Physics Department naturally was in a po- sition to display as much or more than any other department. The showing of Black Light, Neon I tubes, automatic telephones and switch boards, the modern air conditioning of rooms, the relative cost ■ of operation of various size light globes as deter- mined by electric meters and sixty-seven other dis- plays furnished sufficient information for those in- terested to enable them to spend an entire evening in this department alone. Displays in this field are [limited only by the number and interest of the pu- [pils participating and by the material available. The Library with a splendid display of books, [charts and reference materials contributed to every [department. The Chemistry Department displayed 156 ex- hil^its ranging from chemistry involved in tooth powders and cosmetics to a continuous demonstra- tion of the effects of liquid air. This substance with a temperature of -197 degrees Centigrade was a striking contrast to a working display on the same table of the Goldschmidt Process developing a tem- perature sufficient to melt steel at about 1500 degrees Centigrade. One feature found considerable favor. Something over sixty gallons of lemonade made from Citric acid and saccharine, colored with Anilene dye were consumed by the curious crowd who seemed to feel that anything free to eat might be of value regardless of where it came from. The display of pottery and clay material from our own Colorado Coor's Porcelain Plant was very much admired. Few Coloradoans realize the beauty and artistry of these articles from clay or the annual value to our State of these products. One of the greatest Chem- ical Industries in Colorado, the manufacture of beet sugar, was demonstrated from beet to sugar. Act- ual sugar made in the laboratory was on exhibition. It would require too much time to discuss all the material shown by the Chemistry Departments. Here again exhibits were limited by student partici- pation rather than lack of possibilities. Another exhibit which attracted attention was that furnished by the boys and girls of the Home Economics Department on "Consumer Education." Studies were made of the value of such material as canned tomatoes. Cans of tomatoes were pur- chased, opened and amounts of pulp and juice were carefully measured thus giving a definite compari- son as to actual food value and cost. The value of various breakfast foods, packages showing slack fills and mislabeling were all shown. Samples of foods containing high and low food values and com- parative cost were displayed. A splendid demon- stration on Vitamins and the effects of their ab- sence in diet showed the importance of a proper knowledge of these dietary factors. Girls displayed samples of silk hose and compared their values with original cost. The effect of various soaps on tex- tiles as well as methods for removing stains from these textiles was most strikingly shown. The value of various commercial furs as normally sold on the market compared to the original raw fur and the wearing qualities of each was in charge of an- other group of girls. The actual value of linens, sheets and pillow cases as sold showing the effect of filling of starch and other chemicals thus making the finished product appear much better than it really was, had the effect of causing these future citizens to think twice before they purchased an article. The work of these classes in training our boys and girls to investigate articles before they are purchased rather than after is unusual. The training in proper buying is one of the biggest fea- tures of these home training classes. This matter of "Consumer Education" has been largely neg- lected up to this time in our school, and it is finding a ready audience in these days of the falling value of the dollar. No longer do boys and girls from these classes buy articles because of fancy wrap- pings or because of some misleading radio an- nouncement. Such training is very much appreci- ated by their parents. Of course, extreme care is taken to avoid advertising materials in classes and an effort is made to lead the student to form inde- pendent constructive opinions of purchase values. The Latin Department so often considered out of date in these days displayed a series of delightful miniatures of old war implements, bridges, Roman furniture, and a chart showing how Latin forms a basis for many of our scientific words. Special Exhibits Besides these exhibits we had four more or less recreational displays all in charge of our students. Our school musical organization played a concert for about an hour and half in the auditorium for those whose feet grew tired and wished to relax to the music of our splendid seventy-five piece band. Its happy music echoing through the halls added a