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KANADA! MAGYAB MÜWMB
Í962 július 12
This article Is írom Prof. Haldane's book, •'What Is Life", pab-lished In 1947 by Bont and G&er, New Yorb.
ONE OF MY JOBS is to lecture and hold practical classes on certain branches of biology. This is not essentially dif-ferent from the tasks of a secondary school teacher. In each case our pupils are working for examinations, even though many of them are sufficíently interested to study somé matters on which they will not be examined. Are we really doing the best we could to turn out the scientists of the next generations? By^^^i^h wiii waste
scientists I mean men and women who actually ad-vance science, either by dis-covering new facts about natúré or by applying those which were known before to practical problems. Of coui*se the distinction is not a sharp one.
a month — but yet helped, if necessary, so that they get somé results from their work. Somé of ray junior col-leagues have done pretty well, and at least two are probably better biologists than myself.
If we are to teach children science, as we do teach them English, up to the point where somé of them show at least a little ori-
only because I have had a fairly successful scientific career with-out passing any examinations in science since I left school. I had a vastly better training than any university course, namely appren-ticeship. The teaching of science involves a contradiction. The very core of the scientific attitűdé is a respect for facts. whether or not they agree with the teaching of the Bible. of Darwin, or of Engels. But in school one is taught on the authority of the teacher or the textbooks. A real teacher of science must persuade his pupils that his lectures may be incorrect, and are bound to be so at somé points; whereas the spelling of English or French can and should be taught authoritatively. I learn-ed my most important lessons in science from my father. When I was about eight, I began taking down figures which he dictated to me during analyses. By the time I was tewelve I was taking sam-ples of air in mines, and mixing soda and lime for rescue apparátus. Later I came on to the really responsible job of bottlewashing. I realized that the standards of accuracy required in real research, where a mistake might lose a life, were vastly higher than those of school chemistry, just as my own laboratory standard of cleanliness was above that of the scullery. I heard my father producing beauti-ful theories which he had to scrap in deference to ugly facts. I got at least a rough idea of what scientific research meant.
The most important part of the science teaching which I have done was probably the supervision of young workers doing their first research. They must be allowed to make mistakes — even bad ones
I am inclined^ to say^ "No", if ginality. we must introduce some-
^^.^^ ^.^^ .^^^ schools.
This has already been done in Sov-iet schools, though presiunably their scientific teaching has suf-fered by war. In somé country schools a party of boys and girls would accompany a geologist on a
Hungary is to issue a new stamp in her "anniversaries-events" se-ries. to mark the opening of the World Disarmament Congress in Moscow this month. It will have a nominal value of one forint.
The National Peace Council and the Budapest committee of the Patriotic People's Front organiza-tion are co-operating with the Hungárián Philatelic Association in arranging a special "Peace" stamp exhibition in Budapest, from July 7—15.
Other stamp exhibitions will be staged in the provinces.
NOT A SINGLE chhild has died from TB in Budapest during the past three years, Dr. Antal Szak-
kay told a meeting of the city's realize how little we know about
week's prospectingr tour, Gnáing samples of minerals and fossila. In others they helped in the collection of anymala and plants. Many schools cooperated in a study of bird migration. ThouJssmds of birds were caught in traps specially de-signed not to hurt them, released with rings on their legs, and caught again at öther schools. When all the results were collated, it was possible to map the routes taken across the Union by various species of birds. In many of the town workshops were available where children could test their own inventions.
Probably very few of these were much use, but at least they leam-ed from their failures. And they had the satisfaction of making something from their own design, instead of merely repeating standard exeitiises,
The first regulslte HOW FAR CXJULD our secondary sphool children leam science in this way? The first requisite is a much bigger and better supply of science teachers, particularly men and women who have tlone a little research, if only up to the M. Sc. standard. One of the main tasks of our universities to produce such teachers. The second is more lei-sure for the teachers, and for the brightests 10% of boys and girls leaming science. This would be available if free university edu-cation were ■ provided on the scale of the Soviet Union, or even the United States. If so the ablest children would have qualified for it by the age of 15, and would have somé time to spare in their last school years.
Under socialism such things would be vastly easier. The state-owned factories and railways could and would be linked up with the schools in a way which is impos-sible at present. School children would be more welcome on an es-tate belonging to their own par-ents than in Lord Blank's phea-sant preserves or Sir John Hash' Home Farm.
Somie may not agree MANY TEACHERS may think that, at best, such work will not make a real contribution to know-ledge. If they think so it is because they themselves have been taught science badly, and do not
"The Canadian Citizenship Act and our immigration laws are a disgrace to a civilized society/' declared Alderman Joseph Zuken of Winnipeg, addressing a gather-ing of several thousand assembled in the Amphitheatre of Palermo Park, Ont., at the annual Ukrain-ian picnic-festival on Canada Day.
Aid. Zuken, speaking under the auspices of the Canadian Council of National Groups said further:
*'CitÍzensliip is not an immig-rant question — a Slavic, Finnlsh or a Jewish Question — it's an all Canadian problem of fundamental importance and proportion.*'
"The decision as to whether a person can become a Citizen de-pends on the verdict of the secret
police," he charged. "There is no disclosure of evidence, no examin-ation of witnesses, no right of j^,
peal. You are guiity until you prove you are innocent."
Comparing the Citizenship Act to Japán infamous "Law Against Dangerous Thoughts", Aid. Zuken called for drastic measures to re-vise Canada's citizenship laws.
Addressing the gathering also was M. J. Sago, publicity director of the CCNG, who revealed that the Council is planning to convene a national conference in October or November, at which a large de-legatibn is expécted to be chosen to place the entire issue of citizenship and civil rights before the session of the new Parliament
anti-tuberculosis committee which he is secretary.
In 1951, 84 children died from the disease. he said.
There were now four X-Ray sta-tions giving mass screenings to the city's population. But eight more stations would have to be opened to ensure screening every other year for everyone, as required by law, Dr. Szakkay said.
Fonnder of Armenlan Alphabet
This year Armenia celebrates three important dates: the 1600th anniversary of the birth of Mes-rop Mashtotz who founded the Ar-menian alphabet, the 1550th anni-versarj' of his creation of the Ar-menian written language, and the 450th anniversary of the publica-tion of the first Armenian book.
Mesrop Mashtotz's grave at Oshakan is one of the most sacred of Armenian relics.
In 412 A.D. Mesrop Mashtotz Invented an alphabet which con-sisted of 36 letters, and since that time it has not radically changed. It is as easy for Armenians of to-day to rcad writings of Mashtotz time as it is for them to read a book printed this jrear.
Centenary of Azerbaijan Satirlst
Azerbaijan has just celebrated the centenary of the birth of Sa-bir, a prominent satirist. whose first collection of works \^'as printed a year after his death. in 1912. Sabir portrayed a whole gallery of characters, including usurere, sul-tans, quacks, politicians. and matchmakers. His witty verses are süli sung today.
There have been many outstand-Ing poets in Azerbaijan. However,
Sabir was the first to whom a monument was erected. This was done. by the way, in Soviet times — in 1921.
of quite simple matters. Professor j Salisbury, director of Kew Gar-dens, has recently published the first comprehensive counts of the numbers of seeds produced by common English plánt species. Such figures are most important for the theory of evolution, but had never been compiled before. On the average only one seed per year from an annual plánt can germinate and grow up into a new plánt. But this one in 70.000 with the filéd poppy, and about one in 30 with the cukoo-pint. Clearly na-tural selection is much more in-tense in the poppy than the coc-koo-pint, even though the latter lives several years.
Under the new educational schemes children are to be segre-gated into grammar. modern and technical schools at the age of eleven. Presxmieably in the modern schools they will be taught science by the existing methods, while in the technical schools they will have a chance of leaming the craftsmanship which every scient-
A GRADE eight student at Kinis-tino, Sask., Shirley Constant, 17, has been declared the winner in a writing centest for grade seyen and eight Indián pupils in Sasita-tchewan, sponsored by the Saska-toon branch of the Canadian Wom-en's Club.
The winning story told the le-gend of Wee-sa-ki-chak, the one who wanders, a character familiar ín many Indián legends. Second prize went to Roy Lachance of Big River RC Indián Day School, Vic-toire, for his story, Big Enough. The third prize was won by Rose Alice O'Bey of Muscowequan Indián Residential School, Lestock, for her account of the legend, The Lady of the Laké.
Horiorable mention awards went to the following: Donna Smoky Day, Margaret Rose Desjarlais and Darlene Pinacie, all of Muscowequan Residential School, Les-
tock; to Yvonne Ahenakew, Eunice Lavina Hjrman and Driscilla Al-viera Ahenakew, all of Ahtahka-koops School, Mont Nebo, Gordon Sanderson, James Smith Central, Kinistino; Cíara Stick, Ministik-wan Day School, Whelan; Róbert Kayseass, Fishing Laké Indián Day School, Kylemore; Donald Swiftwolfe, Moosomin Day School; Bertha Thomas and William Lew-is, both of Pelican Laké Indián Day School, Penn.
This was the first time the centest has been held. Its purpose was to encourage writing about their own legendary or true heroes by Indián children.
In addition to cash awards by the club, donations of books from the Star-Phoenix book page were sent to those schools sending in the most entries of ment; Muscowequan Indián Residential School (first), James River, Big River and Ahtahkakoops schools.
Chínese people seen getflng grain imported from Canada
Ashkhabad — A new atrport has been completed and opened in the
Capital of Turkmenia. It is linked-ist needs. but few scientific prin-by a broad asphalted highway {ciples. In fact, the gap between
with one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in the city. Yuri Ga-garin Avenue.
Leningrád — The Metal-working Plánt here has built another 200,-000 kW steam turbine. The cost is 600.000 roubles less than that of the first turbines of this series built four years ago.
Smolnoye (Far East) — Shoots of the miraculous medicinái herb ginseng are showing through in the fields of the "Ginseng" State Farm. The first plantaüon was laid out last autumn and was sub-sequently enlarged in the spring. The plants are doing well. In two j'ears they will bloom and produce seeda.
theory and practice. which is char-acteristic of capitalism or any other class society, will be made a feature of our children. This may help to delay the coming of a classless society. But it will not give US the scientists whom we shall need if we are to hold our place among the nations.
Motor vehicle soles shorpSy this year
Sales of new motor vehicles in Canada in the first four months of this year rose 21.2 percent from the same period of 1961. the Dominion Bureau of Statistics re-
IN CHINA all indications are that the Chinese people are receiving the grain being imported from Canada, Australia and Francé, said J. B. Brown of Winnipeg, presi-dent of Canada Co-operatíve Im-plements Ltd., who visited main-land China in April.
China has suffered three of its most disastrous years in the last century, he said, Floods in the south wreaked great harm on the rice crops and drought in the north struck crops such as wheat and barley which are grown there under dryland farming conditions. The consequent shortage of food has been made up by purchases of grain from Canada, Australia and Francé.
"China, of course, is a land al-ways subject to crop failures and famines," he said, "These, in the past, have been met to somé very limited extent by funds collected in Western countries for the relief of hunger. At the present time the govemment of China is meeting the emergency by buying and undertaking to pay for grains from other countries.
"In visiting the citíes of Can-ton, Shanghai and Peking, and in visiting the homes of people liv-ing there, I saw no evidence of starvation. The same applies to the country areas adjacent to these cities.
"The wheat and barley sold by Canada is not going and has not gone to the coimtry areas. These
ported lately.
Sales of passenger cars totalled 175,575, up from the year earlier figure of 140,908, while sale of commercial vehicles increased to 25.719 from 25.142.
can feed themselves, but they can-not produce the surplus needed to feed the large city populations. Consequently all the Canadian grain is being used to feed the people in these large cities."
He said the stories of the exodus of Chinese into Hong Kong from China had been overplayed. People seemed to go back and fortlu quite freely between China and Hong Kong.
"In traveUing by train from Hong Kong to Canton I noted that enjnvhere from 500 to 1500 Chinese travelled each way every day of thé week. It was also noted that a great deal of the food aoquired by Hong Kong .carne from China."
Much of the Information about the throngs of Chinese trying to escape to Hong Kong came from newsmen looking for a sensational story, he believed.
•*The Western Producer"
HUMOR~"
At Hómé
Spend your vacation in your own backyard and your friends will know thé Wnd of person you are — sensible, imaginative, home-loving — and broke.
■ ^ * « *
Precocious A couple of preschoolers figure in this lesson in semantics overheard by an aduit neighbor: "Okay, you can come along if you'll cooperate," said the five'-year-old to his young-er friend. "And cooperate means you have to-do what I say." * * *
Modem Art Modem paintings are like women. You'll never enjoy them if yo" try to understand them.