Homeschoolers Get Lesson In Urban Planning
A mock city designed by a group of middle-school-aged homeschoolers lacks an industrial sector, has gravestones with students’ names and has a well-placed espresso stand.
The city, built by adding boxes to a 30-foot by 20-foot sheet of butcher paper, has been a lesson in urban planning for the 11’s Plus homeschoolers.
“The city’s not quite done, but the kids have learned that the real city isn’t done - buildings are being torn down, buildings are being built,” said Jeanie Wagenman, parent of two of the students.
The children spent five months learning zoning regulations and urban planning from city planner Leroy Edie and the basics of landscape architecture from architect Elizabeth Payne.
Both volunteered their time to the 10-student group, which is made up of students at least 11 years old. Most of the students live in the Indian Trail area or along North Monroe.
The class started with sketches of log cabins before moving on to mapping Browne’s Addition. They eventually worked up to drawing the full-scale city, which has distinctly familiar hospitals.
On Wednesday, the class set up their city and gave a presentation to the city planning commission, during which the students explained specific parts of the mock city they designed and critiqued city planning decisions.
Thirteen-year-old Julie Wagenman, chief school designer, said Lewis and Clark High School was poorly placed because it didn’t have room for adjacent athletic fields and was near the high-noise freeway.
“Because of this, LC would not be located where it is today,” said Wagenman.
Jennifer Weber, 13, noted the architecture of the Cheney Cowles museum did not fit with the rest of Browne’s Addition.
“You learn so much more hands-on,” said Jeanie Wagenman.
But the students didn’t take themselves too seriously. Josh Hinnenkamp put the students names on the gravemarkers in his cemetary.
For information about the 11’s Plus group, call Denise Hinnenkamp at 326-4410.
A lesson in lumber
Brentwood Elementary students got a lesson in trees, logging and public relations last Friday from Mark Brinkmeyer, owner of the Riley Lumber Company in Laclede, Idaho.
Brinkmeyer received a sheaf of letters in early October from students in Millie Hill’s fifth-grade class and Steve Miller’s sixth-grade class, protesting a plan to cut old-growth cedar trees at Upper Priest Lake. In response, Brinkmeyer chartered buses and spent a day personally escorting the students around his mill.
The trees, some up to 1,500 years old and 110 inches in diameter, are on a plot of land Brinkmeyer is trying to trade with the U.S. Forest Service. The two parties have been unable to negotiate a deal, and Brinkmeyer announced plans to cut some of the smaller cedars in the stand.
The students came back impressed with Brinkmeyer’s high-tech mill and mostly convinced he had good intentions.
Sixth-grader Amy Lewis was an exception. “He didn’t want to cut down the trees because of public image,” she said.
Others accepted Brinkmeyer’s descriptions of “environmental logging.”
“He brought us up there to tell us what he can make out of the trees - houses and stuff - and he is not just wasting trees,” said Drew Ulrick, a fifth grader.
Miller says he is not a “tree-hugger,” but doesn’t think the students understand the social or historical value of old-growth timber.
“To me, these are like the pyramids,” said Miller. “(If the trees are cut), how many chances are we going to get to enjoy these trees? Zero - they are going to be tacked up to somebody’s roof or in somebody’s den.”
School plays opening
It’s fall drama season at North Side high schools. Here’s a quick rundown of the plays, dates and names. Most showtimes are 7 p.m. For more information, contact the school.
Two plays at Rogers High School: “Charley’s Aunt” Nov. 16 and 18, with students Miah Brownlee, Cameron Lewis and Chris Fluaitt as leads. Also, an all-faculty review on Nov. 15 and 17 of several movies is being co-directed by three students: Corrine Logarbo, Danylle Steen and Heidi Johnson.
“You Can’t Take It With You” Nov. 10-11 and 16-18, at North Central High School with Andrew Gibson, Sheri Wagner and Emily I. Perez as the leads, directed by Tom Armitage.
“Murder Takes the Stage” Nov. 16-18 at Shadle Park High School, with students Kristy Becker and Eli Barrett in the lead roles.
“Phantom of the Soap Opera” Nov. 17-18 at Riverside High School, directed by Donna Skoog.
“The Diary of Ann Frank” Nov. 15-18 at Mead High School, directed by Jim Brown, with student Angela Imdieke playing Ann Frank.
NC students selling pies
The North Central High School anti-alcohol clubs, SAFYTE and Students Against Drunk Driving, are holding a Thanksgiving pie sale.
Pies cost between $6.25 and $7.50. The pies are supplied by The Pie Shoppe and Deli. For ordering information, call Chuck Filippini or Cleta Amseden at 353-4421.
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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.