Rogers High Freshmen Research Freeway Impact
Traffic engineers have studied a North-South freeway for longer than Tricia Berger has been alive.
But the 15-year-old Rogers High freshman and 74 of her peers threw themselves into the divisive and ancient debate last week with the gusto of youthful idealism.
When assigned a research project eight weeks ago, Berger was opposed to the freeway. She thought a freeway corridor would kick up air pollution and kick out helpless families. But, as she said, “If people research instead of guessing, they’ll find it’s all right.”
Concerned about the environment, Berger and two friends did their homework on the pollution impacts of a north-south freeway for a freshman core class.
“People are saying it causes more air pollution, but the research shows otherwise,” said Berger.
Tiffany Longfellow, her study partner, agrees. “By the time it would be built, we will be the ones driving, living in the area.”
Rogers freshmen spent eight weeks studying the freeway project from a dozen different angles. They were directed by a multi-discipline team of social studies teacher Peter Perkins, language arts teacher Jeri Giachetti and science teacher Aaron Hansen.
Who would be displaced by the three alternative roadways? Who would benefit? Have bureaucrats really studied the idea for 50 years?
“It’s going to be kept being talked about as long as we have transportation problems,” sighed Ron Edgar, head of engineering and air monitoring for the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority.
Edgar - as well as traffic engineers, businessmen and neighborhood activists - acted as a mentor, helping the students research. Edgar, a 1971 Rogers grad, gave Berger a copy of the 400-page Environmental Impact Statement finished last fall.
But the students were assigned to compile their research and ask good questions.
Trust 15-year-old minds to be creative. Gene Yang looked into the possibility of cemeteries being displaced. “You don’t move dead people and dig up coffins and stuff,” said Yang.
Using a computer software that consolidates pictures, graphics and text, the freshmen presented their findings to about 30 adults Monday at the Northeast Community Center.
One group researched previous transportation problems in Spokane. Many of the objections raised over the north-south freeway mirror those raised during construction of Interstate 90 through Spokane, said student Angela Martin.
Several presentations brought up a sore point for proponents: in 1956, the freeway would have cost $13 million. The tab, in a 1994 estimate, now stands at $850 million.
Hansen said it was as important for students to understand the issue as to understand how the issue is being resolved. “The whole motive was for them to problem-solve and for them to understand the process,” he said.
Harold White, a state transportation traffic engineer, agrees. “If they start learning the process, how decisions are made, they are going to be well served.”
“These kids are the ones that are going to be living with the problem,” said Jean Farmer, a community center administrator who helped coordinate the project.
Students tour Inland Northwest
Four days and hundreds of miles in a school bus full of 60 fourth graders was a breeze, says Lake Spokane Elementary teacher Marcia Norstadt.
Norstadt and three other Lake Spokane teachers led an ambitious, three-night field trip on a tour of the Inland Northwest that included a trip to a dairy farm and the Grand Coulee dam.
The students stayed two nights at a YMCA camp in Wenatchee. Campfire sing-alongs were interrupted by killer mosquitos, said Norstadt.
“At the YMCA camp, that was my favorite,” said student Katie Salisbury, 10. “We did canoeing and archery.”
The trip was the culmination of a year of studying Washington state. “It’s just a great way to go out and see what we studied,” said Norstadt, who was joined by teachers Sandy Nuechterlein, Doug Segur and Janet Lake and 17 parents. “They asked great questions.”
The only mishap: a blown air conditioner on a bus. Students had to wait in Wenatchee while a bus shuttled them to the YMCA camp.
“A parent joked that we should have ‘I survived…’ T-shirts,” said Norstadt. “There really weren’t any problems.”
Computers for classrooms
A private corporation again gives money to public schools: Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Bemiss Elementary and St. Thomas More will have daily on-line chats with teacher-trainees next year because of a Seafirst grant.
The $100,000 grant is designed to improve the learning environment of at-risk students. Bemiss principal Dale McDonald said the grant will bring in six new computers, each of which will be wired for an Internet connection.
Spokane School District is chipping in two more for teachers Lauralee Klingler and Patricia Bacha.
“By having those computers in the class it will really allow students to learn how to use them,” said McDonald.
The teachers plan to set up on-line pen pal relationships with students in Toppenish, Wash., who are also given grant money.
Shadle grad off to camp
Jennifer Kuhlmann knows the difference between ionic and covalent bonds and has a few ideas about preserving the environment from human waste.
She will have company this summer, when she goes later this month to an elite, four-week camp in West Virginia.
Kuhlmann, Shadle Park valedictorian and aspiring environmentalist, earned a spot at the National Youth Science camp. All expenses, including air fare, are covered. Two students are selected per state.
Some of the nation’s top sciencific lecturers will speak to the students. Students last year disected a human hand to understand anatomy. Kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and rockclimbing are also available.
Kuhlmann has a 4.0 gpa, was a cheerleader and cross country athlete and founded the school’s Ecology club.
“Everyone thinks environmental people are the hippies,” said Kuhlmann. “I want to change that. I want to tell people … it’s really easy (to preserve the environment).”
She is enrolled for fall quarter at Seattle University and plans to study environmental science.
, DataTimes