Volume X, Number 4
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
March 30, 1990
DirectorSpeaks
by John Friedrick
[Editor’s note: The Director
Has asked to describe what he
would like NCSSM to becoiie
under his direction, what
problews he sees, and what he
plans to do about these
problews. This is his
response.]
NCSSM is a school dev
eloped through the vision of
■any people, fls new director,
I would like to add to the
vision of what NCSSH could
becoae.
NCSSM should be at the
forefront in establishing
effective coaputer science
courses and requireaents,
since so lany students will be
involved in careers where were
literacy is insufficient.
Based on discussions with
■any coHputer science experts,
1 would reconnend consider
ation of a course requireaent
in Pascal, Fortran or C.
Our science courses aust
becoae aore interdisciplinary
since 21st century scientists
will intertwine technological
applications of cheaistry,
physics, and biology to
develop entirely new courses
of study.
I would like to see our
school offer electronics,
robotics, aentorship
opportunities with industry,
and apre coaputer-aided
design work. I would like to
see the School of Science and
Math offer wore research
opportunities for teachers and
students both in and out of
this school so that we can
provide fresh inforaation
to teachers and students on
the direction that science is
taking.
I plan to work for the
construction of an auditoriua
for NCSSM so that we can have
great speakers, coaaunity
■eetings and artistic
perforaances on our own
caapus. Dur huaaniiies
prograa aust upgrade its
integral role in developing
well-rounded, decision-aakers
of those with a strong scien
tific or aatheaatic interest.
You asked that I aention
what probleas I see at this
tiae. The aain problea
that I see is that there is so
■uch to do that is worthy of
our efforts. It is important
to ae that NCSSM be a school
Advisors Visit
by Kristi Young
On January 25, two
science advisors to President
Bush visited NCSSM as part of
an ongoing effort by the Pres
ident to proaote science,
aatheaatics and technology
awareness.
Dr. D. Allan Broaley and
Dr. J. Thoaas Ratchford, both
■eabers of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy
within the Executive Office of
the President, aet with stu
dents and staff of NCSSM to
exchange ideas on the neces
sity of science education and
awareness.
Broaley is the director
of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, and
Ratchford is its assistant
director. Broaley also serves
as Assistant to the President
for Science and Technology.
Ratchford was foraerly assoc
iate executive officer of
the Aaerican Association for
the Advanceaent of Science and
Technology, as well as a
■eaber of the Coaaittee on
Science and Technology of the
U.S. House of Representatives.
Penny Espinoza, one of
the students who aet with the
advisors, said of the aeeting;
"It was very interesting.
They (Broaley and Ratchford]
seeaed really interested in
what we had to say.' She
added that Broaley told the
students that he would del
iver any aessages they had to
Mr. Bush upon returning to
Washington.
The Bush Adainistration
decided to include NCSSM on
their agenda because "it is
the first such school in the
nation and the aost outstand
ing," stated Dr. Earl MacCor-
■ac, science advisor to Gov
ernor Martin.
that can prove that it is
worthy of existence, based on
aore than anecdotes. There
fore, I aa trying to build the
institutional research coa-
ponent of this school so that
we can evaluate whether we
provide a better education
than other schools.
I already believe that we
do provide a better service to
students. For exaaple, our
■ath curriculua is heralded as
being ahead of the national
standards in aatheaatics. In
reading the literature proaot-
ing ICM curriculua, I aa ex-
treaely iapressed by its
quality and exaaples. How
ever, I don't have data
substantiating ICM quality
based on cur students' iapres-
sions and achieveaents.
We should have the data
to show others that NCS91 is
developing excellent people
who have the ability to
iaprove the future coupled
with a feeling of
responsibility for toaorrow.
I want to be part of the aost
excellent school in the
nation. The only way we can,
have the best school is to be
able to prove it.
Budget Cut Affects School
by Teresa Lambe
After the statewide
budget cuts, which resulted in
an NCSSM budget reduction of
15.5;^, there has been soae
speculation around caapus as
to the effects these cuts
would have.
As the fourth quarter
progresses, adainistrators,
teachers, and students are
beginning to feel the pres
sures associated with the loss
of funding. Of course, soae
NCSSM departaents have been
affected aore than others.
English teacher Susan
Schaidt says her travel budget
has been affected. "I aa
going to a conference for the
school, but I'a paying for it
■yself," she said. As far as
supplies go, the department
has not been able to purchase
soae necessary textbooks.
The Media facility has
also begun to feel this air of
awareness. "Me try to be
careful and cautious and
encourage recycling," said a
Media representative. "It has
■ade it necessary to plan
ahead."
Joe Liles froa the art
studio agrees, but thinks in
the long run planning ahead
eight lead to even greater
waste. "Many people saw the
cuts coming—the state did the
same thing last year," said
Liles. "Because (some educa
tors] saw it coaing, many
projected what they thought
they’d need at the beginning
of the year and spent it, so
we didn’t have any aoney left
at the tiae of the cut."
Liles, however, does not think
this is the proper way to run
an institution. "The way to
spend aoney is to let your
prograa run and see what you
need . . not to project. I
■ean, if you buy 25 tons of
toilet paper, and don't use
it, then that leads to a lot
of waste," he said.
According to Brenda
Watson, the NCSSM library
doesn’t have any extra aoney
to waste. "We don’t see a
tremendous effect as far as
purchasing books, but other
areas like equipment and
furnishings will be affected."
The question of future expan
sion concerns Watson as well.
"My first concern is personnel
. . . and losing part-time
staff. We might not be able
to buy other advanced techno
logy either."
The English and Art art
departaents, the media
center, and the library aay be
feeling the crunch, but other
areas have been more fortun
ate.
Dr. Lutz says the
aatheaatics departa^ has
(Bee page 4)