CITY LIMITS: A LOOK AT ISSUES FACING PHILADELPHIA

Teachers learning from students Teachers learning from studentsFunding from Merck and the National Science Foundation is taking University Engineering students to West Philadelphia schools to work with teachers to make science more accessible to inner-city students Imagine this. University students teaching Philadelphia Public school teachers how best to stimulate interest in science for young, inner-city children. Sound like a pipe dream project of an Urban Studies major? But this vision has become a reality thanks to Merck & Co., Inc. and the National Science Foundation. Starting last summer, Merck, along with the NSF, founded a five-year partnership called the Penn-Merck Collaborative for Science Education. The goal of the Penn-Merck project is to instruct inner-city school teachers in methods to make science accessible to students who attend South and Southwest Philadelphia schools. And who is teaching the teachers? Students at the University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. NSF has already pledged $1.8 million towards the project, and Merck $360,000. In addition, the University's Graduate School of Education will contribute funds to the program while administering it. And the Engineering School will provide the laboratory space for the training sessions. Currently the program has 48 teachers, but officials plan to involve 64 more by this summer. The teacher training sessions --in which the Philadelphia school teachers learn from University students -- consist of a three-week seminar this summer, and another one next summer. Following this training, teachers are monitored for about 12 months by the administrators of the program. Carlo Parravano, director of the Merck Institute for Scientific Education, said he chose the University to implement the project because of its solid record of community involvement. "I think that a technologically based company needs to have a pipeline that is rich in talent and diversity," Parravano said. "We can continue to discover new medicines well into the next century." University Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos, the former chief executive officer of Merck, said he believes science education at the elementary level is very important. Vagelos said Merck realized over six years ago that young people are inadequately prepared in science and math education. Like Parravano, Vagelos stressed the need for a "pipeline" of future scientists. He also stressed that there is a specific need for more black scientists. "We are committed to doing this because it will upgrade the children so they will have a basic fundamental understanding of science," Vagelos said. "We think we can have some impact, but we can't change the United States." Merck's initiative in West Philadelphia with University students follows programs that have sent volunteer scientists to the city's schools. Penn-Merck Project Coordinator Jane Horwitz said the scientists play the part of major role models for the children. · In last summer's session, six Engineering students designed and presented "discovery" labs to the elementary school teachers under the guidance of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Professor Jacob Abel. The "hands-on" projects tried to demonstrate scientific and engineering principles in everyday objects, such as studying the strength of materials by using spaghetti models to exploring electricity by wiring a doorbell or taking apart a hair dryer. The purpose behind the lab is to give teachers models that they can replicate in their classrooms. And Merck, along with other sponsors, are providing the materials and resources to supply the schools. Abel stressed that "hands-on" activities, in contrast to dull lectures tend to spark more of an interest in students. "We want them exploring and investigating," Abel said. "Hands-on is the way to do science. That is the way to get children interested and excited about science." Horwitz said that many of the Engineering students were wary about teaching teachers, but by the end of the three weeks' training, they said they had realized their fears were unwarranted. "The teachers were just so impressed with what the Engineering students had done," Horwitz said. "And the fact that the Engineering students were willing and able to get up in front of these teachers was pretty awesome as well." At the end of the three weeks, the teachers presented the University students with a handmade card, signed by all, thanking them for their time and effort. Able said he keeps the card in the top drawer of his desk amidst the remnants of last summer's experiments. Engineering junior Jennifer Cheng said she enjoyed the program because the students "clicked" with the teachers. Engineering senior Alaina Cerini agreed. "It was a really good experience," Cerini said. "We could use the stuff we learned at Penn and put it on an easier level and make it fun." And because of the overwhelming success of the summer program, Horwitz said there are plans for University students to actually go into classrooms and assist teachers during this semester. "I think to have students talking to students provides this continuum that says to a young child, 'Hey, I can do this, you know this is something I'd like to aspire to,' " Horwitz said. · University and city officials alike stressed the importance of the Penn-Merck project for strengthening their own relationships. "I think it is a very important partnership for Penn and West Philadelphia, and is a good model for universities around the country," University Director of Community Partnerships Ira Harkavy said. Superintendent of Philadelphia Schools David Hornbeck said the Penn-Merck program is consistent with the goals of his program for city schools, called Children Achieving. "They identify the high standards that they want to achieve and then they provide the kind of time and professional development that equips teachers to help achieve more," Hornbeck said. The first session, which met last summer, concentrated on chemistry and physics, while the session next summer will focus on biology and earth science. Horwitz said he has lofty expectations for the joint effort. "It would be really nice if we had some impact in all of the schools," Horwitz said. "I'd like to touch every teacher in the program." Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education Nancy Streim said the magnitude and impact of the project could potentially be enormous. In five years, about 250 teachers will have been taught science by the University students. In addition, these "master" teachers are encouraged to teach their co-workers at the schools. Streim emphasized the importance of this endeavor because of the lack of science education in elementary schools across the country -- and in Philadelphia. Horwitz agreed, and said that Merck is setting a precedent by supporting science education from kindergarten through the fifth grade. She said that although a lot of companies finance science education, it is usually only at advanced levels. "They [at Merck] decided this is where there is a gap and where they wanted to focus their attention," Horwitz said. Horwitz added that the initial reaction to the program has been extremely positive from both teachers and the University. "It's those human moments, watching people connect with what you love," she said. According to Horwitz there is also a lot of interaction between University officials and the elementary school teachers. She said she plans to observe all 48 teachers for at least one hour. · According to recent statistics, the schools involved with the Penn-Merck program face some of the largest challenges in the city. Being in constant contact will local schools, Horwitz says she gets a first-hand view of the problems affecting Philadelphia's public education system. Horwitz said she has mixed feelings on the city's public schools, but does not see as many systemic problems as some officials report. She said it is very difficult to assess science education within the schools because there is no standardized test that serves as a barometer. She said that while the main problem in the schools is large class size, the schools are rich in their greatest assets -- their teachers. "I have all together wonderful teachers in my program," she said. "They are motivated and they are interested in what they are doing." Carol Young, a teacher in the program at the Leidy School in Southwest Philadelphia, characterized the experience as "fantastic." She said she has seen a dramatic change in her students' awareness and interest in science. And she added that her students are particularly excited when the Merck scientists visit. The scientists, some of whom are black and female, have changed the children's perception of scientists, Young said. "I think we will definitely have some scientists in later years," Young said. "The summer component was very rewarding for me and I'm looking forward to coming back this summer."