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Science And Teaching Of Science Are His Interests
The Michigan Alumnus 93
College professors seldom meet young people in the classroom before they have reached the Fresh man level, and few teachers in high schools have the opportunity to con tinue instruction of their charges after the high school years have been completed. To those in both cate gories who feel a desire to know their young charges at both levels, the work of FRANCIS DAY CUR TIS, Professor of Education, pre sents the perfect arrangement. He is not only a Professor in the School of Education, conducting classes for college students, but Head of the Department of Science in the University High School as well. Thus, he knows and works with young people of most ages above the gram mar school level, and in addition is a force whereby many are encour aged to pursue the truths of science as lifetime vocations.
The Michigan Faculty man was born at Portland, Oregon, August 6, 1888, and in the course of time enrolled at the University of Oregon. With A.B. and A.M. degrees from Oregon, received in 1911 and 1922, he went to Col umbia on a fellowship, and didn't leave Morningside Heights until he had acquired a Ph.D. degree in 1924.
That was his college training, but not the extent of his teaching experience, for he started as a high school teacher in Eugene, Oregon, in 1911, and continued in this capacity in Portland, 1914-1918. From 1918 to 1920, he was Head of the Depart ment of General Science and Phys ics at Franklin High School, Port land, and head of the Department of Science, 1920-1923. Since 1924, Dr. Curtis has been on the Faculty of the School of Education, as Assistant Professor of the Teaching of Science, 1924-1927; as Associate Professor of Secondary Education and the Teaching of Science, 1927- 1933, and as Professor since 1933.
He has headed the University High School Department of Science since coming to Ann Arbor. In the sum mer of 1931, he taught at the University of California, and at the University of Hawaii in the summer of 1936. Professor Curtis is a Fel low of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the National Education Association and President of its Science Section, 1929; a member of the National Society of College Teachers of Education, the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (President, 1932); and a member of the Society for Curriculum Study, the Science Association of Great Britain, the Michigan Education Association, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Tau Delta, and Acacia. He is the author of several books and a contributor of articles to numerous journals, as well as Vice-Chairman of the Year Book Committee, the National Society for Study of Education, 1932.