EDCI 551 01B Julius Sumner Miller by

The Man

awrigh04 — 2025-03-20 18:39:28 UTC

Julius Sumner Miller was a scientist, professor and television personality. He taught at several universities and hosted various television shows, both in the United States and abroad. His most popular was entitled, "Demonstrations in Physics," and ran on PBS in syndication many years after the show was cancelled. This provided many generations with access to his demonstrations. Of coarse, now these videos can be viewed on Youtube.

The Myth

awrigh04 — 2025-03-20 18:50:00 UTC

Professor Miller stopped on several of his programs to explain that his recitations were designed to be stirring for the soul! His goal was not to teach any physics, but to stir the viewer's curiosity. They were meant to grab the viewer's attention and encourage them to do their own research. His programs still accomplish this when show to classes, but it's his attitude that is important. It's his attitude that can be replicated. It draws you into the experiment. It makes you think. We need teachers like this today. Teachers who are just as much showman as educators. Students learn more and learn faster when they are interested.

The Legend

awrigh04 — 2025-03-20 18:58:42 UTC

Professor Miller believed in the power of the imagination. He was an ardent supporter of learning. He stated many times that very little in the way of resources were necessary to educate. He said he could teach more to a group of students outside under a tree, most could teach in the most expensive educational buildings in the world. Large expensive buildings, nice furnishings, and the latest technology was not necessary for education to take place. Too much money and time were wasted on such things. He also hated to hear that students were struggling due to lack of funding or lack of resources. He said what they lacked was quality teachers, not buildings, books, and other resources. This is true today. Many institutions blame low student performance on lack of funding, when it is simply an excuse. If a student wants to learn and a capable person is there to teach them, education will take place.

Experiment Doesn't Go as Planned

awrigh04 — 2025-03-20 19:08:28 UTC

It was one of his first televised experiments that cemented his attitude toward physics. Professor Miller would never lose faith in physics after that experiment. He attempted to demonstrate atmospheric pressure, by boiling water in a large metal drum and then closing it up and pouring cold water over it to hasten the process. The idea being that the pressure would drop inside the barrel and the atmospheric pressure would collapse the drum. It did not work at first and Professor Miller began to explain what possibly went wrong. Just as he began the explanation, the barrel collapsed! Teachers today need to have faith in their subject matter as well. This is especially true in higher education. A belief in the importance of the subject. The educator should present a clear relevance to real-life. They should exhibit a passion for the subject.

Ingenuity

awrigh04 — 2025-03-20 19:18:26 UTC

Professor Miller was a genius in some ways. It was not in his research or discoveries that his genius lied, but in communication. He took some of the most boring subject matter found in textbooks and made it come alive. His passion for showmanship was evident on every appearance. He truly thought he was making a difference in the lives of his viewers and I would agree. He obviously made a living from his appearances, but if that were not the case, nobody would have every heard of him or seen his dramatic demonstrations. Teachers need to find their own place in education. They may have to move from job to job or even town to town, but they should find their place. Their place may not even be in a school, like Julius Sumner Miller, much of their time might be spent in a studio or some other place. It might be in their own home that they make the biggest difference.