
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 22, 1995                   TAG: 9506220034
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S SCIENCE - AND IT'S FUN

MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS got a big payoff from spending a few extra days in school. And some who attended the governor's school's program wished it could have gone on all summer.

More than 100 middle school students from seven Southwest Virginia school divisions extended their school year by a week to take science courses at the Southwest Virginia Governor's School.

Participants from the counties of Pulaski, Montgomery, Giles, Carroll and Wythe and the cities of Radford and Galax chose one or two courses from a menu that included geology, computers, astronomy, geometric design, ecology, physical science and chemistry.

"The funny thing about it," said Debbie Douthat, who coordinated the program, is that "the kids are learning but they don't realize they're learning."

Rising 5th-, 6th- and 7th-grade students proved more than willing to show off a three-dimensional geometric design they had made out of flexible materials, or their mastery of a computer program.

They thought they were just having fun. Many of them commented that they wished the classes could go on all summer long.

The program was sponsored by the Governor's School and New River Community College, where Douthat works in the continuing education program.

The college had sponsored other summer camp science programs every other year or so, she said, but this one was particularly successful.

Information on it was sent to area school divisions well in advance, which paid off in early registrations by students. "Most of the classes filled up within two weeks," Douthat said.

She also credited the quality of the seven instructors recruited for the classes. "They have challenged these kids ... presented new topics in a variety of ways they can understand," she said.

Every class had a field trip during the week.

Douthat said future summer programs of this kind with the Governor's School are certain. It had almost seemed until now that such science program opportunities for young people had been a well-kept secret, she said, "but it won't be next year."

by CNB