The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 2, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 January 1983 — Page 12

12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., January 26,1M3

School news

\ r* ■•• ■« •> i| • ■ ]&& I ®kW- ; f JI - Bai' ’xdßklk Sw. ft w Jfe iifek Jg b IK' '* ’** r fl - rrA * 4 I ' JflVLj' ;«K a** fiJzv t Aww ! '-|B® 1/ f' B JM *■''/ tKk. B B t w7 : fl B ,kJk/tJk !Jm KKBw-'' I'* i BBrw Jr # wfl f|M .±..Jlr® \ r A )1 "« bl/I \JI T y ■ Star- . fa t tefe &» JANUARY’ VIPS — Joellen Free, activities director at Lakeland Loving Care Nursing Center, presented a program to the January Very Important Persons from Milford Elementary School. Mrs. Free described her duties and responsibilities at the center for the children who performed excellent work this month. Each students was then required to present a report to his class after Mrs. Free’s presentation. VIP students pictured in row one are: Crista Dippon; Kim Hollar: Andy Leiter; and Maria Hernandez: row two, Vanessa Pamer: Lisa Tessmann; Cathy Schwartz; Jenny Beer: and Clay Rassi: row three, Ned Speicher, elementary principal: Jason Brooks; Krissy Eisenhour; Heidi Lehman: Moni Lange; Joe Harwood; and Mrs. Free. (Photo by Gail Widmoyer)

4qHI Bk ff* Eh — '** a t V wEr ‘d?l a £1 . » O| Hk Uv. J JE 10,011 OR 19 — According to the human binary computer pictured above, 10,011 is the same as 19. Actually, 10,011 is the binary code representing the number 19. In Ronald Carmichael’s seventh grade math class at Milford Junior High School, students have been working with the base two concept where only two characters, 0 and 1, are used to represent values. Instead of the normal base 10 values like 10s, 20s, and so on, base two increases by twos. ' Illustrating the binary computer concept above from the left are: Maricela Cantu, James Charters, Terry Richardson, Virginia Islas, Rick Baker and Eliseo Roa. (Photo by Gail Widmoyer)

HHTx» w —"* ' i 1 V *&■ wk X z ’ Jf \ WsS'te ' "', w- II®: W - ■ W ■ M ' ~ / If* .-. -IB <&*-&*■ *y~ |Sfe& ~, .■ •> M < —-* «' t \-'. lt 3 . JI TOP TYPISTS — Kim Hart, Anita Swope, Robin Winterburn. Ngoc Tran and Kathy Weisser have turned in five timed writings at a minimum of 35 words per minute in John Wysong’s typing classes. The timed writings are five minutes long and the students are allowed only five errors. All beginning typing students learn to type on manual typewriters. Robin Winterburn was the most outstanding typist as she averaged 48 words per minute on the timed writings and she also achieved an A in production typing.

„*s»«Mife. •w . »' x w • • ,-;. A , x s * Bt x »jl ' ls V ■ ’ * <s :sj S’ ' 1 ■■' l -" "-'X ***** • ’Li* .o, it JEBf W f ■ DbTdflil * ' a i r* j it Bk <* f * ■ z LJ®f ... STUDYING ESKIMOS — First grade students at North Webster have been studying Eskimos. They have been reading stories, writing stories and making a book about the subject, with the help of their teacher Mrs. Pryor. Shown here, with Eskimo puppets they have made, are Sarah Locke, Amy Drake and Kyle Smith, in front. Standing are Natalie Mickley, Crystal Sledge and Ryan Merchant (Photo by Sharon Stuckman)

R-w^ar’*-,. -•- * WK v w * .v- m b <- - * - '•’zdßw I > ' /rln Yb' t r r S' v * -» t *•'■** ’ * ® w \ \‘-Rv4 ' H Z C- - ■*^ r " ’MF w w '" • v' lw mk « | sgJWv.jgi i B > wW\ _jl > Wfc V' s K-*o i WK 1 w| FROSTY SNOWMEN — Mrs. Eberly’s kindergarten class at North Webster has been studying about winter. As part of the project they are making masks of snowmen, pictures of pine trees and other wintery things. Picture in front, with their snowmen, are Matthew Lenfestey and Alma Ashton. In back are John Lewis, Robert Murphy and Ranee Tom. (Photo by Sharon Stuckman)

Hi M fit I’j'PW?BL w| Mt .. gfcijJß" ft >'> XA ’ 'Mlf ... ' ; r B ' «'-#!■ 111 iuup 1 n OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING I STUDENTS — Mike Pang, Rod Vanlaningham, Jim LaTour, Larry Flannery, and Karen Haney, received A’s in the first nine-weeks grading period and achieved straight A’s on the eight standardized tests taken this past nine weeks in accounting. Ninety-five per cent of the total test points for each test was the cut-off in order to receive an A. These eight tests included problem tests and objective tests. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

Wowasee math instructor Neff concerned about national trend

In a high technology society, the need to understand mathematics has become even more important. Research shows that the average college-bound high school student will not be prepared for college-level math courses. According to a study completed by Purdue University, the best high school math students have gotten better, but the average students seem to be understanding less. At Wawasee High School, math department chairman Michael Neff is concerned about this national trend. “I’m concerned because we could always do a better job.” the 22-year veteran Lakeland school system teacher says. But as far as his department goes, “I’m not alarmed at Wawasee because we haven't seen the decline. " The Purdue study analyzed the performance of 8,256 students on a placement examination in mathematics and found that those students who should have been prepared for calculus in college aren’t equipped for the advanced course. In comparing Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, a test required by most colleges, Wawasee students scored higher than the national average on the math section of the test. Neff said this is a good indication for Wawasee but he does not hold much faith in these kind of test results. State and national averages in all kinds of testing can be swayed heavily by the number of students participating in the test. In Indiana, for example, the SAT is encouraged. In other states, like Illinois, only a small percentage of students take the test. This will raise the score of the smaller percentage, Neff explained. For those students planning on taking math or science courses in college, Wawasee offers four traditional math courses — algebra I, geometry, algebra 11, and a college-prep advanced math course. Two new courses added by the department, computer math, is also available to Wawasee students. Neff / blames the decline of basic skills on two phenomenons in American society: television and calculators. He said weak basics can be blamed on the

wrong use of calculators. “Fart of this is due to using calculators at a very young age," said Neff. He admits that calculators are here to stay, but that most students use them as cheating tools. "The students are using calculators without understanding what they’re doing," he said. Television also damages the student because television viewing wastes time and requires little thinking. The key to mathematics is to think and reason, Neff said. “I think that we live in a society that expects everything to be easy and full of short answers," he said. Advanced mathematics is just the opposite. It requires careful thought to understand com-

W I V fl ; '- j <' mMBMBHBMI i 1 ■ - liiv 'M.* I I ..i HOW MAGNETS REACT — Third graders in Mrs. Beer’s class at North Webster are experimenting with magnets to see what Attracts and what does not. Students have used many types of items in this test and will learn more about why this happens. Pictured are Nikki Searfoss, Mike Secrest, Brenda Templeton and Greg Hormann. (Photo by Sharon Stuckman)

School Calendar Week Os January 26 To February 2 SATURDAY Vocal-piano solo and ensemble contests All day at Fort Wayne MONDAY Milford Junior High eighth grade parent night 7p.m.

WHS guidance dept, offers FAF, scholarship info

Wawasee High School’s guidance department las announced that seven schclarships are now available to seni< >rs Each scholarship requires a completed Financial Aid Form now available at the office. A workshop for help in completing this form is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. BfromsJloto7:3o p.m. in the library annex. Purdue University’s school of enginneering offers a scholarship for women. A “B” average is required. Applications can be picked up at the office and the deadline is Feb. 11. Phi Delta Kappa Sc tolarship for prospective educators is available. Information can be obtained at the office. Applicants must include two hitters of reference and a 1000-w ird essay on the topic “In what can a teacher motivate students so they have a desire to learn? ’ IU-PU Fort Wayne manu-

plicated theories. A group of 1982 graduates visited the high school recently for a “feed-back” seminar to discuss with seniors about their experiences in college. The math students said Wawasee prepared them well for freshman math and science courses. Switching from high school to college is difficult for some students, said Neff. A student who made it through high school classes easily may find the going tough in college. In 1965, Neff said the textbooks in math courses changed to the then phrased “new” math. This switch resulted in greater knowledge but weaker skills. “Thinking may have increased, but basic skills went down,” he said. "The pendulum has

facturing technology department has scholarships for students interested in the manufacturing option of the mechanical technology program. Ivy Tech-South Bend vocational student scholarships. Candidates must have a 3.0 (“B“) grade point average to qualify. At Purdue, students interested in food science could qualify for a Purdue University Food Sciences scholarship. Students of limited financial resources could qualify for a scholarship from the Niccum Educational Trust Foundation. Once selected, the assistance extends for all four years of college. A completed FAF must be forwarded to the College Scholastic Service listing Goshen College so the information can be received. The deadline for mailing applications is April 5. More information is available at the office.

swung," said Neff, so that today ’s math is a hybrid of the old and the new. Textbooks now stress basic skills but not in the same way as it did when he started in 1960. Another possible reason could be an increase in unqualified teachers. Because the pay scale in education is so much less than in other math-related fields, college graduates grab the higher paying jobs. Consequently, the high schools are stuck with teachers wjth limited math background teaching mathematics. ’ The Purdue study has one bright spot, though, and that is the best students are getting better. “The best students take advantage of the time they have,” Neff said.

Lakeland School Lundh Menu Jan.3l-Feb. 4 MONDAY - Hot dogs, tater tots, fruit, wacky cake and milk TUESDAY — Tacos or taco beef ole with lettuce, cheese and tomato, buttered corn, fruit, bread and butter, and milk WEDNESDAY — Turkey and noodles, mashed potatoes, cherrycobbler, peanut butter sandwich, and milk THURSDAY — Beef stew, applesauce, bread and butter, peanut butter fudge and milk FRIDAY — Fish sandwich, french fries, cole slaw, jello and milk Parent-night meeting planned A parent-night meeting will be held at Milford Junior High School on Monday, Jan. 31, for all Milford eighth grade students and parents. The evening will acquaint parents and students with course offerings at Wawasee High School. Dr. Howard Hull and the Wawasee guidance department personnel will be present to review registration materials and discuss high school programs. Dr. Hull will also have a slide program about Wawasee High School and be available to answer any questions about the high school. Following this meeting, opportunities will be provided for parents and students to meet with the junior high counselor, Dick Roose, in regards to individual student schedules. All parents, and Milford students are encouraged to attend.