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"It is better than ruining your eyes," said Ryan Waltz, 17, a chemistry student at Johnston High School who on Wednesday was measuring the space a marble takes up. "Because you only get one pair."
Two Drake University professors are working hard to ensure that all schools and students take safety precautions seriously.
Jack Gerlovich, an education professor and former science supervisor for the state Department of Education, and Rahul Parsa, a statistics professor, have been studying science equipment, procedures and facilities across the country for six years. From May 2001 to December 2001 they studied surveys returned by 383 Iowa high school teachers - and found problems.
"We have been lucky we haven't had horrendous accidents," Gerlovich said.
Among the study's findings:
* About 70 percent of Iowa science labs are more than 20 years old.
* More than 37 percent of science teachers have never received science safety training during their careers.
* More than 17 percent of teachers who have had training took it more than 10 years ago.
As science programs become more hands-on, chances of accidents grow unless safety equipment, procedures, and facilities are in place, Gerlovich said.
Waltz knows that if he is having lab in Terry Frisch's class he's got to put on the safety goggles, because there is no messing around with safety regardless of whether the experiment is with hazardous chemicals or marbles.
On the first day of class, students go on a safety scavenger hunt in the lab to ensure they know where the fire extinguisher, safety shower, fire blanket, and first-aid kit are.
Frisch's chemistry class has 20 students. Most labs are equipped to hold 24 students, according to Gerlovich, but most schools cram more students into their science labs. He blames it on not enough money.
In the study, published in the Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science, the researchers sent out surveys to 617 Iowa teachers; 383 were returned.
The study found that in many schools there isn't enough up-to-date science equipment. Many school labs are lacking such necessary safety equipment as fire extinguishers and eyewash stations. Some are not up to date on building, electrical and fire codes.
"I think it was an awareness thing, and now it is a budget problem," Gerlovich said.
Ernest Schiller, 2003 president-elect of the Iowa Science Teachers Section of the Iowa Academy of Science, agrees. "Science needs more funding," he said.
Gerlovich believes a national standard of safety would help schools get money and figure out where they need to spend it. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in each state sets safety guidelines. Gerlovich believes a national standard is needed to ensure safety.
State officials applaud the idea of a national standard.
"We think it is excellent, because what we really need is a place where school districts can go to get science information," said Tony Heiting, state science consultant with the Iowa Department of Education.
Schiller supports the goal as well.
"We do need a national safety stick out there," he said. "Safety is very, very important to education today."
A national study would take years to complete. Gerlovich and Parsa have studied science safety in 13 other states and found the same problems as they did in Iowa.
"We want to get to the point where foreseeability of an accident in a facility is relatively small," he said.
In the meantime Gerlovich and Parsa have been working with several state offices to create CD-ROMS informing teachers of national and Iowa laws; building, electrical and fire codes; and professional standards.
"We are just trying to get the research," Parsa said. "We just need to get it moving."
In Johnston, students are staying safe and some are even enjoying science class.
Pam Brande, 16, said an experiment where they burned the compound magnesium - and wore goggles - was interesting.
"It is usually worth it when we are working with chemicals," she said. "It was really bright and white, and it was pretty cool."
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