The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 30, Milford, Kosciusko County, 7 September 1988 — Page 10

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., September 7,1988

10

School news

Bob and Bill Kitson —

Twin teachers like their work at WHS

I By MITCHELL STINSON Staff Writer They. were together at birth, together in childhood, together at college and for the past 20 years Bob and Bill Kitsop have been together at Wawasee High School, teaching science to area youngsters. The 47-year-old identical twins have side-by-side rooms in the school’s science department where they hold positions as head teachers. Bill imparts his chemistry wisdom on students in room 106 while Bob handles physics next door in room 107. There could have been other higher paying career moves for people with the qualifications of the Kitsons but they have never regretted getting into teaching. “There’s a certain challenge that you have in getting people to think and to learn,” Bill laid. “When you see it happening there is no reward as great as that.” “There’s nothing more rewarding than working with young people,” Bob added. “Even when you’re most discouraged you realize that the other opportunities you would have had in the science-related fields of research and development doesn’t even hold a second fiddle to working with young people and seeing their lives molded and seeing results.” Adopted at birth by their aunt and uncle, Bob and Bill grew up in Ligonier. They enrolled in Manchester College in 1959 and received their bachelor’s degree? four years later. They did their graduate work at Ball State University and received master’s degrees from the physical chemistry and nuclear physics department in 1969. Although both were chemistry majors they are also qualified to teach physicsand math. Bill, the elder of the two by about 10 minutes, did his student-

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teaching at North Webster and Bob latched on at Akron. Bob soon accepted a teaching post at Milford and Bill became a fullfledged teacher at North Webster. They went their separate academic ways for five years before being moved to the newly-formed Wawasee High School in 1968. The Kitsons claim that it hasn’t been by design that they always seem to end up in the same vicinity. Bob ended up in the Wawasee Community School Corporation only because there happened to be an opening at Milford. I “It was just a happenstance that we both got in the same corporation,” Bob said. “That wasn’t planned,” Bill said with a smile. “It was never really thought about .when we started, that’s how it would work out, either. It just did... and we’ve tolerated it all these years.” Students have a visual device for knowing ofie Kitson from the other. Bill wears glasses and Bob rarely does. It isn’t always easy to distinguish between the two though. “When we came to the high school their favorite question was, Are you my Mr. Kitson or the other one.’,” Bob said. “If you knew the kid you were theirs and if you didn’t know them, it was the other one. And we still have that with a lot of students.” • The Kitsons have made special efforts to establish separate personalities. They intentionally don’t go to the same church, aren’t involved in the same community activities and don’t have the same circle of friends. "“That’s so we can have our own identity, which is very necessary,” Bill said. “Professionally, our friends are the same but in terms of family they’re different.” “The only problem you run into,” Bob said, “is when his friends run into me when I’m not with my wife arid think I’m him and are insulted when I don’t

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DNA DUO - Identical twins Bob, left, and Bill Kitson have been teaching science at Wawasee High School since the school began in 1968. They hold positions as head teachers in their department.

speak to them, when I don’t know them from Adam.” Bob and Bill live within a quarter-mile of each other on the family farm near Syracuse. Bob has a family of four children and Bill has two children. They claim that their two families have a normal amount of interaction and probably don’t get together any more than the families of siblings who aren’t twins. “We probably used to have more (interaction) when the kids w6re a lot smaller,” Bill said, “but once the kids starting getting involved their own activities we needed our family identity.” Keeping their own identities hasn’t always been easy. They grew up in a time when twins were thought to be exactly alike. They didn’t sign up to room together at Manchester College but they were put together and were roommates for four years. “People who aren’t twins look at it and say, Oh, that ought to

Fall Round-up next Monday for Syracuse Cubs Cub Leaders Dan and Dave Van Lue announce Fall RoundUp fpr all boys wanting to join the Syracuse Cub Pack 3828. Registration will be held on Monday, Sept. 12, from 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Syracuse. All boys in Syracuse Elementary Grades 1-5 are invited to become either a Tiger Cub or a Cub Scout. Parents are invited for an explanation of the program. Examples of uniforms, books and literature will be available for inspection. Leaders from the local pack and council will be present to answer questions.

be great,”’ Bill said. “But when you are a twin you can be together enough. You can be together too much. ” “Twins should be encouraged to be individuals and not be together all the time,” Bob added. r A Even at this late date the Kitsons have a little of that conditioned “twins” attitude left over from their childhood. “Even to this day I don’t talk in terms of what I do,” Bob said. . “Its always we, we, we. That’s the way you were brought up as a twin.” “I very rarely use the term “we” now like I did 15-20 years ago,” Bill said. “Now I realize I have to be an individual.” The Kitsons said they have a normal brotherly relationship. Like all brothers they get tired of each other sometimes and they don’t always agree on things. But they do agree on wanting a quality education for science students at the school? They speak in glowing terms about the science department’s staff of Gary Goshert, Karl Keiper, Chris Kline,, Jerry. Lambert,.! Ram Schumm and Dave Van Lue. “I guess we just can’t say enough good things about the people we get to come and work with every day,” Bob said. “It’s fun to be here and work with the staff that we have to work with.” The Kitsons say that the science program is riot designed to be easy at Wawasee. It’s challenging and it may have a reputation among the students as being tough. Bob and Bill are pleased with the response they get from the students as well as the administration and the community in general. “We’ve got good kids to work with in this school corporation,” Bill said. “We have good people leading us, our administrative team here is excellent and as a result of that they’re trying to meet the needs of kids. ” Bill wrapped up his philosophy on devotion to teaching by saying, “Someone once said that to teach is to touch a life forever. And I think most of us in the department believe strongly that if you make a bad impression on a kid they’re stuck with that forever... That’s an awesome responsibility when you stand in front of a group knowing that. Four from county are Ball State resident assistants Four Kosciusko County residents have joined the Ball State University residence hall staff as resident assistants. They are Beth Bonner, Leesburg; Peggy Burke and Kristina Rockenbaugh, Syracuse; and Jim Hester, Winona Lake. Resident assistants, counsel students, assist directors with administrative duties and enforce university rules and regulations. They also act as liaisons between hall directors and student residents. Bonner, 20, is a junior majoring in interior design at Ball State. A .graduate of Wawasee High School, she is the daughter of Harry and Nancy Bonner, r 1, Leesburg. Burke, 20, is a graduate of Wawasee High School. A junior majoring in English education, she is the daughter of Robert and Judy Burke, r 5, Syracuse. Rockenbaugh, 22, is the daughter of Steven and Bev Butt, 449 Medusa, Syracuse. A graduate of Wawasee High School, she is a junior at the university majoring in accounting. Hester, 20, is a junior majoring - in finance. He is the son of Mur-i rey and Pam Hester, SOI Mineral, Springs, Winona, Lake, and is a graduate of Warsaw High School.

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NORTH WEBSTER SCHOOL GOOD CITIZENS — These students at North Webster Elementary School were selected by their teachers as citizen’s of the month for August. In front, from the 16ft, are Jared Ganshorn, Brent Balser, Jennifer Deplanty, Annie Woodward, Jamie Yoder and Tristin Stahl. In row two, from the left, are Kristen Hartup, Steven Neibert, Alex Gonzales,

Wawasee math programs offering something for everyone

I By SCOTT DAVIDSON Staff Writer “We offer something for everyone because no matter what their future plans are, they will somehow be involved with math,” stated Mike Neff, chairman of the math department at Wawasee High School, about the school’s math offerings. Neff, who is in hi? 21st year at Wawasee and his 29th overall, said that math skills are basic to getting along in today’s society. “We have an excellent selection ‘of courses at Wawasee and it’s very important that the students do take advantage of them,” added Neff\ Neff stated that he has seen the emphasis in math shift from concentrating on structure when the new math began, to now placing a new emphasis on problem solving. “I think it’s great,” remarked Neff about the change. .Wawasee’s math department which has grown from four full time teachers when Neff began to a staff of seven full time and one part-time teachers today, has a greater percentage of students taking its classes than many area schools Neff added. Wawasee’s math department offers courses that are not only for the college bound student but also for the student who chooses another path after graduation. “Society is more technical today and obviously everyone has to know some math,” commented Neff. He added that there is more math than ever before in today’s world and many jobs, such as economists, business careers, etc., place a greater emphasis on math skills than ever before. Everyone is required two years of math at the high school level in order to graduate but most students who go on to college take four years of math according to Neff. He added that Wawasee starts college bound students out by having them take algebra in the eighth grade. School lunch menu WAWASEE COMMUNITY HIGHSCHOOL September 12-16 MONDAY — Turkey pot pie, cauliflower, cherry cheesecake, and milk WEDNESDAY — Lasagna, buttered peas, applesauce, hot roll w/butter, and milk WEDNESDAY - Fried chicken, whipped potatoes w/gravy, jello w/fruit, bread and butter, and milk THURSDAY — Pizza, buttered green beans, pineapple rings, cookie, and milk FRIDAY — Tenderloin sandwich, buttered com, apple crisp, and milk Menus are subject to change. MILFORD SYRACUSE NORTH WEBSTER ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH September 12-16 MONDAY — Ham dinger sandwich, criss cut fries, pineapple rings, brownie, and milk TUESDAY r- Italian spaghetti, buttered green beans, jello w/fruit and topping, garlic toast, and milk WEDNESDAY - Fried chicken,'■whipped potatoes w/gravy, buttered baby carrots, bread and butter, and milk THURSDAY — Vegetable soup w/crackers, bologna sandwich, fresh banana, and milk FRIDAY — Pizza, buttered com, applesauce, bread and butter, and milk Menus subject to change.

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FIRST YEAR .TEACHER — First year Wawasee math teacher Kem Zolman instructs a general math class at Wawasee High School during a recent afternoon class session. (Photo by Scott Davidson)

Wawasee’s math department offers 15 different courses including, for the first time this year, AP Calculus. Neff remarked that this course is the equivalent of introductory college calculus and the students enrolled in it are expected to do college-level work. He added that students who take AP Calculus are prepared by the end of the class to take the AP Calculus Test for college credit. Neff said that Wawasee’s math department also teaches part of the school’s computer courses that are offered to students. He added that the math department offers computer programming one and two, both semester courses, which deal with things ranging from files to graphics. Neff, who commented that Wawasee has 16 Zenith com-

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MAKING MUSIC — These fourth grade students in Mrs. Markley’s class at Syracuse School show the musical instruments they made for a science project. The students were studying the sounds produced by vibration and classified their instruments as strings, woodwinds, or percussion instruments. Shown in the front, from left, are: Carl Clevenger, Rachelle Neff, Elizabeth Dull, Christy Smith, and Emily Slabaugh. In the back row are: Joshua Coburn, Bianca Kemper, Angie Hoover, Tina Baker, Brock Bales, and Haily Harris.

Youth center to kick off fall soccer program Saturday

The Lakeland Youth Center is kicking off its fall Youth Soccer Program on September 10 at Vega Field, Syracuse, from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. Over 175 youth from Syracuse, Milford, and North Webster have signed up in the two age divisions, (6-10 and 10-14). The Youth Center, partially funded by United Way, will also be conducting its annual fall fundraiser in September, their only public fund drive of the year. Soccer players and gymnasts will be offering a gift wrapping paper

Krista Richey, Garry Tom, Schaya Thomas and Jamie Mock. In back, from the left, are Kris Wiley, Sharado Nethauriy, Kara Hartup, Jennifer Ganshorn, Elizabeth Brunner, Vahnessa .Dugan, Brandy Rosenquist and Nathan Fitzgerald. Josh Lantz was absent. (Photo by Glen Long)

puters as Well older computers, stated that the business department at Wawasee also offers computer courses which deal with word processing and spreadsheets. Neff stated that the staff in Wawasee’s math department is a very conscientious one that cares about the kids. The math department staff at Wawasee includes: Neff, Neal Frantz, Thomas Hassan, Jerry Hawkins, Chris Kline, Phil Metcalf, Daryl Umbower and Kem Zolman. Neff added that the range of experience for the math teachers at Wawasee ranges from this being the initial year for Zolman and Hawkins to this being the 29th year for himself. He added that Umbower has taught for more than 25 years. Neff stated that he believes

and bow package and decorative cannisters of candy and cookies for sale in the community. This fundraiser represents a significant portion of the Youth Center’s annual operating budget and the communities’ support is requested anti appreciated. Other fall programs at the Youth Center this year are gymnastics for beginners through advanced; Judo instruction; chess club; Preschool Motor Development; and morning and evening adult aerobic classes. A few openings in some of these programs

that Wawasee has excellent students even though they have so many choices of things to do today that there work ethic maybe isn’t as high as it used to be. He added that if students, not just at Wawasee but everywhere, would take the time to put the blood, sweat and tears into the math offerings that are available, our society would be more competitive in today’s world. Looking to the future of math in our schools, Neff commented that he believes that the emphasis will be on students having to produce and master subjects. “Accountability will be the major thing and students will have to do a good job,” Neff said. He concluded that this is already the thrust of the Prime Time and A-Plus programs that the state of Indiana have instituted.

may still exist. For more details, call the Lakeland Youth Center’s new director, Pam Howatt, 457-3055. The Youth Center’s junior high dances will also be held on the third Saturday evening of each month from 7 to 9 p.m., with the exception of the October dance which will be held on Friday, 28, during the fall break from school. Also, the new outdoor basketball court on the Youth Center’s parking lot is open to all. Plans for adding lighting for evening play are also under way.