Hope College - Milestone Yearbook (Holland, MI)

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Eugene C. Jekel M.S. J. Harvey Klcinheksel, Gerrit Van Zyl. Ph.D. l’h.D. Head of the Department of Chemistry Chemistry The universe in which man lives is God's creation, and in it he occupies a unique position as a created creator. As such, he is charged with responsibility for knowing its nature, to the end that he may make creative use of its resources. Inquiry into chemistry and allied fields is inquiry into the very composition of the universe. Through the comprehen- sive study of the elements in their totality and complexity comes an appreciation of the beauty of organization, struc- ture and functioning of the natural world. Man's finite mind, applying the principles of experiment and observation in- volved in the scientific method, can comprehend and appre- ciate the cosmic order as exemplary, not of man's genius, but rather of the fundamental unity of the power working in the natural world. Maurice Loomans takes tlown his observations from his experiment in Organic Synthesis.

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An education of a student in the workings of his psycho- logical nature and of the physical universe is incomplete with- out the inclusion of a study of man as a biological organism in his relation to other organisms. This entails a thorough exploration of the main forms of life, their development, structure, functional processes and interrelationships. The material is vast in its scope and consequently the subject of Biology has become a highly specialized one. However, the general view of the field acquired by an average student pro- vides sufficient basis for an attitude of inquiry concerning the natural world of living organisms which surrounds him. Under the guidance of Dr. Crook, students become intimately ac- quainted with the inevitable laboratory frog. 28

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Dr. Van Zyl and student assistants observe a phase of their exj crimcnt in thiophene sponsored by the Research Corporation. Faculty Projects In September of 1953 I)r. Ernest Ellen of the German Department established a unique program of foreign lan- guage study in Holland grade schools. Initially German in- struction was given to a small group of fourth grade students who responded enthusiastically. At present, however, instruc- tion in German and Spanish is given to over three hundred children in the fourth through the seventh grades. Contrary to general opinion, a great number of mentally retarded children who arc not cducablc arc trainable. Such children arc the concern of Miss Mary Rhoades, a senior psychology student, who is the director of Prestatie Huis, Achievement House, a day care center for trainable mentally retarded children from the Holland area. The school is staffed entirely by Hope student volunteers. Although the Psychology Department uses this project as a workshop for its students, the major aim of the school is to help the children learn to utilize their capacities to their full- est extent through training in self-help. .Mi. Stckeltc measures the rainfall and provides a statistic of general interest. 30