Duke helps school get new science lab

Beginning in the 2001-2002 academic year, Durham Public Schools will enjoy the benefits of a new science lab at E.K. Powe Elementary School, with the help of major community players who wanted to make a statement that teaching science is important.

Modeled after classrooms at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, the new lab was funded in large part by Duke efforts and the school system. A $50,000 donation from Home Depot, Inc. has helped meet the $190,000 cost.

"It means an awful lot," said Bert L'Homme, associate superintendent for instruction. "The temptation is to focus on essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics.... We think this is going to underline our commitment to teaching science in the elementary grades."

The lab will take up about 1,600 square feet, nearly doubling the size of Powe's current science space, which is a converted mailroom. It will provide better lighting, more storage area, a kitchen and display cases.

"Right now, the E.K. Powe science lab is housed in a work closet," said Treva Fitts, science resource facilitator at Powe. "I'm so looking forward to more room.... Everyone who is involved is really waiting for it to happen."

But the lab will serve as more than just a physical space. It will also be a center for the professional development of local science teachers; the museum will provide one staff member to help with training.

Tom Krakauer, president of the museum, hopes the training will lead to better science education in Durham schools. He noted that 92 percent of area science teachers have not taken more than one high school science class.

Currently, the state's ABCs program requires end-of-grade testing in only mathematics and writing, not science.

"The state's tests are really pretty important for these schools and teachers. Science instruction is really de-emphasized," Krakauer said. "We're going to be able to provide them with teachers who are really experienced."

The teachers will be trained in inquiry-based learning, which focuses on exciting a student's interest and inspiring him to ask questions.

"It really makes a difference for young children to see the excitement of science," he said. "Most kids make their decisions about whether science is something they're interested in or something that's too hard or too boring... in about the fourth or fifth grade."

The idea for the lab came out of long-range planning talks at Powe, and eventually brought together the school, Superintendent Ann Denlinger, Krakauer and Duke.

"It looked like a splendid opportunity for these schools," said John Burness, senior vice president for public relations at Duke. "As part of our effort to help them, we've been going out to systematically raise money... to do these things."

Working with Powe is part of the University's Neighborhood Partnership Initiative, which aims to improve the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods and their seven public schools.

While there are no additional labs planned at other schools, officials hope that such improvements will be possible in the future. He noted that several schools, such as Forest View Elementary and C.C. Spaulding Biosphere Magnet Elementary, already have good science equipment.

"I think that Duke University has proven to the public schools and the children who attend public schools that the commitment is substantial and sustained over a long period of time," said L'Homme.

Elizabeth Shearer, Powe's principal, agreed and said that Duke is helping students that might one day be knocking at its doors.

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