Mead’s Humanities Class Gets Praise From Students

Ideas popped and crackled and careened through the darkened auditorium as students in Mead High School’s 11th grade humanities class gave their final presentations.

Jeanine Wallach’s thoughts bounced from the rapid evolution of the airplane to the accelerating rhythm of pop music.

Jesse Driscoll and Shawn Hummel debated the theology and ethics of creating artificial life. “It’s about not only playing God, but creating God,” Driscoll argued.

Comics, according to Derek Farmer and Jamie Moshin, have created words like “security blanket” and “kapow,” spurred yellow journalism and opened political discussion to the underclass.

Good does come out of war, Heidi Bartholomew says. Tetanus serum and plastic surgery resulted from World War I; plasma and penicillin were pioneered during World War II.

The presentations last Wednesday night wowed parents, community members, faculty and even the toughest critics of all - their fellow students.

In a night of high debate and sterling performance, Gregorian chants were mixed with discussions of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, Mozart’s Symphony No. 8 with an analysis of National Rifle Association propaganda.

“That was awesome,” a student whispered after Wallach’s presentation.

“That’s one of the most marvelous demonstrations of student learning you will see,” said Mead superintendent Bill Mester.

The presentations are mid-term finals for the 58 students in the year-long, two-hour-a-day class. Co-taught by Georgia Toppe and Mark Bowman, the class traces history though the evolution of philosophy, music, art and drama. The origins of the U.S. Constitution are found in ancient Greek writings; Vietnam War protests are seen in Broadway musicals.

“This class is the best class I have ever taken, or ever will take,” said Driscoll.

That kind of praise - which comes in from students every year - is what Toppe and Bowman had in mind when they proposed the class almost eight years ago.

They had to wrestle with hesitant administrators for over a year to fine-tune a curriculum in the nebulous humanities discipline.

Now in it’s sixth year, the class is one of the most respected in the school. Toppe and Bowman push hard, but the class is not inclusive to honor students.

“It is for risk-takers,” said Toppe, pointing to a group of long-haired students plucking guitars.

Toppe said the class challenges students to explore their beliefs and to pursue their own interests. Each student picks the topic of their presentation, and spends months researching.

“It is the ultimate critique - question all your assumptions,” said Hummel. “This makes all other classes make more sense.”

“I pick up the paper and say, ‘hey, I know what they are talking about,”’ said Andrea Fern.

Toppe has found academic freedom can push the envelope of even her open mind. Last year, several students interested in radical feminism wanted to put on a presentation that condemned men.

“I told them you can either shock them and turn them off, or you can get your message through,” said Toppe. The student toned down the shock value.

Students in this year’s class - like those in previous classes - became devoted to their projects.

“It’s not like a math assignment, where you say this is the time that it takes,” said Driscoll. “You read a book, then you think about things that have nothing to do with it. It is so involved, very circular.

“By the time it’s done, you don’t think about it in terms of time, you think about it in terms of months.”

Fern agrees. “I must have checked out 45 books (from the Spokane library),” she said. “They know me well.”

Some have also found the teachers’ tough reputation to be true. Evan Thomas turned in a paper; when he got it back, it looked like it had a case of the measles, covered in red ink.

“She said, ‘we are not here to build self-esteem, we are here to make you a better writer,”’ said Thomas. “I am now.”

Lidgerwood volunteer honored

Lidgerwood Elementary volunteer Candy Lochmiller was honored as part of the annual United Way Volunteer of the Year awards.

Lochmiller volunteered up to 80 hours a month at the school, working as an office aide, tutor, crossing guard and cafeteria helper.

Mead schedule won’t change

The Mead High School staff voted last week not to pursue a schedule change that would create a three-period day.

After 10 months of research and discussion, fifty-four percent of the staff voted in favor of the change, short of the two-thirds majority required by district policy.

Most of the “no” votes came from staff concerned about changing too much at once. Mead is preparing to split staff and students into two high schools in September of 1997. Long-time principal Steve Hogue is retiring in June, and a replacement has not been selected.

Student DAREs to be creative

Arcadia Elementary sixth-grader Dustin Weisgerber was told to be creative with a cardboard box as part of a DARE project at the Deer Park school.

With the help of his parents, he got mechanical, creating a roadster race car complete with fat rear wheels and a realistic engine.

“The creativity that is involved is just incredible,” said Bonnie Bantas, principal of the Deer Park school.

Mead schools honor authors

Vikki Cobb will headline the annual Mead Authors Celebration, which begins Jan. 30 at Evergreen Elementary. Cobb has written more than 30 children’s books about science.

Cobb will be reading from her works at Evergreen; and at Colbert Elementary on Jan. 31; Brentwood Elementary on Feb. 1; Farwell Elementary on Feb. 2; Midway Elementary on Feb. 5; Meadow Ridge Elementary on Feb. 6; and Shiloh Hills Elementary on Feb. 7.

Celebrating Catholic schools

North Side Catholic schools will be having a week-long celebration of Catholic education from Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.

Among the activities: unveiling new technology labs at all the schools, a teachers versus eighth-graders volleyball game, a school clean-up day, a student drama and music program, a pancake feed and a day of arts and crafts.

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, grandparents are invited to join students at school.

For more information, call Mary Ann Ashlock at 456-7130, or a North Side Catholic school.

, DataTimes 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. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.