Delaware County Daily Times from Chester, Pennsylvania • Page 14

14 DELAWARE DAILY TIMES December 22. 1971 gradrs pursue medicind By CARL ROBINSON Daily Times Correspondent NETHER PROVIDENCE -M i i micro biology, computer technology, botany. These are all college courses, rjght' Wrong! How about gourmet cooking, needlework, or dance? These must be taught only at special schools, right' Wrong again All of'these subjects and more are being taught to fifth and sixth grade students at Summit Elementary School in Wallingford the Individual Pursuit Program. The Individual. i Program allows students to choose three from a long list of subjects offered and study thdm in.

sessions' 'one afternoon a week. The program was originated under principal'; James Werkheiser and has been expanded by the current principal at Summit, Robert Rice. "CHILDREN need to learn 'to rnake decisions themselves and then stick with that decision whether it proves to be good or bad," Rice explained. "The students' reaction to the program has been great At first they were not accustomed to making this sort of deasion because they had always been teacher- directed "The subjects offered have piqued their curiosity and they absolutely have learned a gieat deal The students are also able to do research or library projects or consult with a teacher during the' Individual Pursuit 'time. "In the special classes offered, there are seldom more than 12 students in any one class which makes for a more personalized relationship with the 'teacher affd the both of' "which; ONE and extremely gratifying part of the Individual i Program 'that people may not generally realise is that all the instructors are local people who.

volunteer their time and talent. Among these volunteers are renowned specialists in their fields The subjects offered and the instructors include' Prime-Med, an introductign to medicine taught by Dr Mane Valdes-Dapena, Micro-biology taught by Dr a 1 Karkenny; Chemistry, Dr. John Beale; Dance, Mrs. Pal Boyer, I i to Computer Technology, David Metzger; Hockey, Mrs, Michael Ferren, French, Mrs. Gladys Rogers, Needlework, Mrs Edith Kirk, Slim Gym, Mrs Michael 11 Gouimet Cooking Mrs JRocco Carzo; 'and Mrs.

'Barbara Bailee; Teddy Vaides-. Dapena. 3f )e DR. VALDES-DAPENA' said about her Prime-Med course: "It like, a miniature medical We discuss anatomy, physiology, etc. I've 'brought of the heart and we discuss where it is in the body, what it does and how it works.

"I've also brought in X-rays and an X-ray view box so the students could see the bone structure of the body and see what X-rays are. On several X-rays, they could clearly see a button and a that had been swallowed. "The students are intrigued and very interested, and their is tremendous "I'm having fun, too," Dr. Valdes-Dapena added ALL THE volunteers in the Individual Pursuit Program seem to be i but more importantly, the children are enjoying learning. "The Individual Pursuit Program is'.

turning children 'on to education, 'and, in addition" to what they are learning, they are given the i to make decisions," Rice said. And the: response from the community? "They seem to fully -support it. We've gotten no negative response at.all," Rice claimed. Community support understandable because the Individual -Pursuit evidently combines all 'the ideals education, student interest, community involvement and education of children. DR.

MARIE VALDES-DAPENA instructs class about thermometer. JOHN AHTES and Tom DeShields wait patiently while Antes has his temperature taken DIANE PUTMAN (center) and Sharon Moat huddl near Dr. Dapena to read thermometer. Daily Times staff Photos BERT HODGE CHRIS GALE gets help finding- mercur in thermometer. CHIP LEWIS looks nose'to see if-he can own temperature..