My favorite high school class was the first chemistry lesson I had in senior school. I was 14 years old and feeling very grown-up. I had worked hard to get into the top group of science students, and was looking forward to the challenge and excitement of working on some tough materials.
The teacher walked in and congratulated us on being selected as the top science students. He warned us that we had a lot of hard work ahead of us, but also promised that the classes would be fun and fulfilling as long as we concentrated on the materials and were diligent about our homework.
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, he started the first lecture, which was about the composition of the atmosphere. Everyone started taking copious notes. He told us that Nitrogen was 78% of the air we breath, with Oxygen accounting for 21% and the remainder taken up by Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and other gases.
He then proceeded to explain that Nitrogen had a pink color and a slightly sweet smell. Like good students, we continued to record this valuable information into our study notes. After several more minutes of lecture he stopped, and then exclaimed "are you students morons??!!". Needless to say, this caught our attention and we instantly brought our heads out of our books.
He continued: "If Nitrogen was pink and formed 78% of the air, the classroom would look pink! Are your brains even turned on right now?!" He proceeded to berate us for being so gullible, and then used the situation to segue into a discussion of the ingredients of science; observation, theory, and rigorous testing.
He concluded by pointing out that it's easy to hoodwink someone if they don't practice critical analysis. It was hard to argue with this point, since he had just got 20 of the so-called top science students to write in their books that Nitrogen was pink!
It was a classic lesson, a brilliant and insightful way to make a point, and it's a credit to the teacher than I can still clearly remember the moment many years later.
Graham!
You probably don't remember me but I used to be one of your employees at ObjectSpace in Dallas, Texas. My official title was Marketing Manager when I left the organization back in 1999.
Working at ObjectSpace was one of the most pivital moves of my career - what a great organization! I'm so glad I had the experience of working in an environment swarming with creativity and where dedication and hard work were rewarded.
I always remember you being a 'visionary' and I see that is still the case.
Good luck in all of your endeavors - I still believe the 'Body Electric' concept will become reality! :-)
A former employee -
Tammy Johnston
Posted by: Tammy Johnston | Apr 24, 2006 at 07:40 AM