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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1982)
Page 4 Portland Observer, August 11, 1982 METROPOLITAN Enrollment explodes in Jeff's science class T here’ s been an e ruption in Jef ferson’ s science department, and it doesn’ t have a n y th in g to do w ith volcanoes. I t ’ s the enrollment in the advance classes—physics and chem istry. Nearly 60 students were enrolled in chem istry and physics this past year. As recently as 1977 only fo u r teen students were taking advanced science at Jefferson. W hat’s the se cret? As Fred Greaterox, a junior in physics, puts it, " I t ’ s always some th in g you can use. We learn how things w ork, why they w o r k ." Jim S tapleton, another ju n io r , has an even m ore serious exp la n a tio n : "S cie n ce helps you learn how to think. It helps me in my other clas se s ." The tr io (w ith M ik e S m ith, ju n io r, added) all agreed advanced science is absolutely necessary if stu dents plan to go on to college. Jefferson offers 19 sections o f bi ology, general science, chem istry and physics to over 325 who are en rolled. Chem istry-physics teacher Lloyd Meskimen says, "W e have a good solid core program and a d i versity o f teaching styles among our s ta ff." J e ffe rs o n ’ s science program is successful in attracting and keeping female students. Nationally, figures show that fem ale students tend either to avoid these classes or drop out. Not so at Jeff. More than half o f the students in the advanced sci ence classes are fem ale and the drop-out rate is very low. A ll students participate in labora to ry experiences, not ju s t the ad vanced students. In th e ir exp e ri ments they practice data collection and fo rm u la tin g conclusions. De partm ent head Helen Koopm an, a Jefferson student herself and s ta ff member for 28 years, says her p rin cipal goal for her students is " t o get them to th in k ." As she sat re fle c tin g about the year, Koopm an explained how the techniques o f science tie into human relations. In the fall she had the op- p o rtu in ty to discuss stereotyping and pointed out that it was a conslu- sion based on a lack o f evidence. " W e ju s t fin ish e d our chem istry unit in general science and one o f the problem s also had no solution because o f a lack o f evidence,” she continues. She rem inded her stu dents o f their September discussion and again explained that the tw o problems were similar. This is ty p i cal o f the c o n tin u ity w hich runs through the c u rricu lu m in the sci ence program at Jefferson. A ccording to vice-principal Bob O ’ N e ill, "O n e o f the strengths o f our science department is that it has a concept-based curriculum .” "T h is approach is less random and results in a course w hich I can b u ild on fro m year to year. 1 can add new equipm ent and ideas,” explains Meskimen. The expanding science enrollment seems to be paying o ff. T his year there were more students who quali fied fo r the prestigious end-of-the- year awards fo r science students. The Bausch and Lomb medals were awarded to Paige Tashner and Mark Yee as the tw o most outsta n d in g seniors in science. Maureen M itch- o ff earned the American Chemical Society award as the top chemistry student. Lois Jo rd a h l won the $1,000 G lenna Teeters Science S cholarship awarded an n u a lly in memory o f a former science teacher. W ith the increase in num bers, there’s also been added interest for extracurricular activities. A Science Club w ill be organized next fall and its activities w ill include field trips, guest si takers, and seminars. For ,ne first time in several years, a sen .ir science sem inar was o f fered for the fall. Students who have already completed three years o f sci ence w ill have an opportunity to se lect topics fo r study, and indepen dent research p rojects w ill be in cluded. The seminar w ill also incor porate know ledge and skills ac quired in other classes. The D Floor science rooms are a hub o f activity. The computer-gen erated banner and the colorful post ers featuring milestones in science which decorate the hall are indica tions that continued explosive erup tions can be expected in Je ff's sci ence department. -Cola Coca Catering prices are pretty standard all over town are the services. Except at The Westin Benson. With crystal chandeliers, delicate china, gleaming silver and remarkably ^ood food served by top notch professionals, we set a higher standard Catering costs about the same everywhere. But only The Westin Benson offers you so many priceless extras tor parries of 20 to 500. T he W estin B enson P o rtla n d ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING CLASSIC HOTELS. Call 295-4140 today* Free evening & weekend parking. S o z . “Cold-WraP bottles. Hold on to the cold. United Way Kicks Off 82 Campaign United Way o f the Colum bia W illamette is gearing up for its 1982 cam paign with a community kic k -o ff at W aterfront Park on September 1, 1982. The com m unity a ffa ir w ill run from 12:00 to 1.30 pm and w ill feature speakers including Earl Wantland, 1982 campaign chairman and president, Tektronix, Inc., and Mayor Frank Ivancie. The community k ic k -o ff is open to the public with an anticipated crowd o f 500 people. 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