Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1982)
Sunset from PLC A clear day in February in Eugene is always news A hint of spring fever lingered in the air over the city during Wednesday's warm temperatures Drinking survey polls undergrads By Debbie Howlett Of the Emerald Students seem to know what they're drinking but they don't know the laws or the dangers associated with drinking, according to surveys taken at two West Coast universities The results of those surveys have prompted concern from some groups on this campus, enough concern that University undergraduates are being polled about their drinking habits The Alcohol Education Committee, a group of students, faculty and physicians formed in January — anxious to find out more about student drinking — approached the University's sociology department A "survey methods" class is laying the foundations for the committee s poll of 1,000 undergraduates The survey, already in the distribution stage, will question drinkers and non-drinkers about the role alcohol plays in their lives Under the direction of Patricia Gwartney-Gibbs. an associate professor in sociology, the survey will survey to ascertain why. when and who students drink with The survey includes a section to poll non-drinkers "The basic reason (for the survey),’’ says Gwartney-Gibbs. "is that alcohol abuse is thought to be a big problem among young people today. Nothing is presently known about University of Oregon students and alcohol use " Gwartney-Gibbs says that studies of student drinking have been conducted at Washington State University, where there is reported to be severe alcohol abuse and misinformation problems and at the University of California at Berkeley The survey is also the first step toward educating students about alcohol regulation. Part of the survey is a section of about 20 questions that tests students on their knowledge of drinking laws. "A typical question is one like 'is it illegal to move my keg from my house to someone else’s?’ ’’ says Gwartney-Gibbs Gwartney-Gibbs says that the survey will probably be ans wered by about 75 percent of those who receive them "I want to stress that the responses (to the University survey) can in no way be connected to the respondents There is total anonymity." Gwartney-Gibbs and her class are doing the survey for "$1,300 or $1,400, most of which is postage costs," she adds The completed surveys may be returned through the mail, or a drop box located in the ASUO offices of the EMU. The results of the survey should be finished toward the end of spring term, says Gwartney-Gibbs, but the answers and the results of the "knowledge questions" will be finished within a few weeks Page 12 Pioneer Montessori class offers a total education By Debbie Howlett Ot the Emerald The "parent’s handbook" from the Pioneer Montessori Children's Home reads more like "Zen and the Art of Motor cycle Maintenance," than a rule book from a elementary school. "There are just too many day care centers doing minimal kinds of babysitting,” says Fred Echeandia. founder and owner of the Pioneer Montessori "Were looking for more academic and cultural types of experiences " On a recent visit to the school, located upstairs in the Central Presbyterian Church at 15th Ave and Patterson St., the children worked quietly while a tour was conduct ed "Look at them," said Echeandia "The one over there school carry teaching creden tials from Washington and Oregon The eight staff members have 16 years of study between them in Europe at Montessori colleges "Each member of our staff has two graduate degrees," class setting The children at tending the school are involved in much the same learning processes that public schools provide, but Echeandia is careful to point out that the children at his school learn grace and basic skills before Children are taught grace and basic skills before other skills are learned. says Echeandia The "Montessori approach" evolved from Dr Maria Montes sori's philosophy of a ' univer sal movement for human re construction that follows a single path " Montessori "defines and redifines the con cept of total education.' ac cording to an introduction pamphlet Pictures of Maria Montessori other courses are pursued The children also must clean up areas they've been working in "A lot of children that young don’t take the time to do those things,” says Echeandia In all three of the classrooms plants, birds and fish occupy space among the students as if their natural habitat is the second floor of a church Echeandia says that fish are one of his hobbies and that they provide the students with a knowledge and value of nature The windows in the school are made so that they are low to the floor and easily accessable to small children Echeandia says that accessable windows are requisite for a Montessori schools "They let the child see beyond the classroom,” she says The Pioneer Montessori Chil dren’s Home is one of seven Montessoris in Lane County There are five in Eugene, of which Echeandia says that his is the only "AMI accredited” one Thursday, February 25,1982 'The approach is based upon the philo sophy of Dr. Maria Montessori’s concept of a more total education. ’ in the pinafore, she's only 3'/2 and she’s come such a long way.” The “Montessori approach,” says Echeandia, is one of plac ing the child in a "beautiful en vironment" to learn and explore the world at their own pace “We want to balance the European Montessori with community needs," he adds The teaching staff at the are hung throughout the class rooms Enrollment has grown from 28 children, three years ago when the school was founded, to about 75 now, says Echeandia Currently, about 75 percent of the children are pre-school ages The children progress from a “pre-school,’' that stresses grace and movement, says Echeandia, to an elementary
