96 School Science and Mathematics

a grant and the necessity of ’justifying’ the apparatus requested madea review of the curriculum necessary in order to establish the placeof each item in relation to a scientific principle. Upgrading of demon-strations and experiments because of the apparatus purchased re-sulted. The outside (Research Corporation) interest created an in-school interest on the part of our science teachers."

Publicity given to the grants created curiosity on the part of thepublic, parents, and other organizations. "Many parents havedonated equipment, many parents have attended our Science Fair.""The $500 grant sparked acquisition of up to $5,000 in contributionsfor the purchase of library material for the new school. We havereceived very substantial grants from local industrialists, prominentcitizens, and the Max Kade Foundation."The proper choice of personnel to contact the schools and to visit

with the teachers is paramount. This team of people should be wellversed in both secondary school administration and secondary schoolscience problems.When teachers are freed from economic worry, they are eager to

study new subject matter to bring themselves up-to-date. This inturn has caused some colleges and universities to give attention to theproblem of providing courses for teachers which will meet their specialneeds.The most important conclusion of this study concerns the relation-

ship of the teacher to the effectiveness of a grant. The size of a grantwas found to have no particular relationship to the various criteriaof "effectiveness." The utilization of a grant of any size is ultimatelydependent upon the teacher. The mere presentation of a sum of moneyto a school offers no assurance that improvement will follow auto-matically. The presence of even one competent and dedicated teacher willgive the most valid assurance that a grant will be effective.

NEW COMET MAY BECOME BRIGHT AS HALLEY^S COMETA new comet, expected to become as bright as the famed Halley^s comet, is

now flashing across the skies and approaching the earth.The comet was of magnitude eight when first discovered but has already

brightened to more than fifth magnitude. It can now be seen with the naked eyeone to two hours before sunrise in the constellation Leo, the lion.The comet, called Seki, was discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer

who lives on the island of Shikoku.Calculations make on the comers progress by Dr. Leiand E. Cunningham of

the University of California at Berkeley indicated that the Seki comet was ofalmost first magnitude by Nov. 13. During the second week of November, itpassed by the earth and could be seen very low on the southern horizon.

Besides Halley^s comet, last seen in 1910 and expected visible again in 1986,two other first magnitude comets, Arend-Roland and Mrkos were seen in 1957.Comet Seki was first reported on Oct. 11, 1961 to Harvard College Observa-

tory, clearing house for astronomical information in the Western Hemisphere.