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WCU - Western Carolina University Publications

Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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Western Carolinian Volume 42 Number 61

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  • The^stern Carolinian THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1977 Vol. XLII, No. 61 CULLOWHEE, N.C. Gifted students spend 20th year in Cullohwee WCU offers special ed The summer program for gifted children at WCU began ils 20th year this term. 391 fifth through tenth grade children from North Carolina and other Southeast ern states are enjoying a summer of academics and recreation in the beautiful mountain setting of Western North Carolina and surrounding area. flic kids have come from as far away as Canada in the past, ami staff members for the program as far as Florida. This vear. one of the Jamaican students is also serving in the program. Teachers in the program, according to Dr. Charles Stallings. principal and director of curriculum for the program, tire here because Of their ability to work with the age group tlicy are assigned to. Most have masters degrees, and come from a variety of academic backgrounds. This year, nine counsellors came from Key West, Florida alone. Others come from North Carolina public schools. South Carolina schools, and from WCU. I'he program lor the children includes academic activities until two p.m., and recreational activities from two until about 4:30 p.m.. according to Fred Harris, director of student affairs for the summer program. Harris explained that the fifth through seventh grade curriculum centers mainly around social studies, and that in the eighth grade, students turn to the sciences for study. In the ninth grade, research techniques are emphasized, then in the tenth grade, students combine efforts in a group research project. This year, the tenth grade project involves musicians and their works. THE RECREATIONAL activities are geared to complement the academic aspects of the program, and the variety is enormous. After two p.m. each day. the kids choose two of five activities to keep busy with, including swimming, tennis, art. music and gymnastics. The recreation periods are one hour each, with a 15 minute break between each. Art activities seem to be the most popular this year, according to Dr. Stallings. The school began operations in 1957 as the brainchild of the late Dr. C. Dan Killian. It began with 30 fifth and sixth graders, then was expanded later to include the ninth grade as well. Still later, the age gap was filled in with the acceptance of seventh and eighth graders, and three years ago, the tenth grade was added to bring the program to its current size. The student/teacher ratio is now at about 23 to one, with a 29 member housing staff offering a 14 to one counsellor/student ratio. Many of the teachers are certified specialists in the field of gifted children, and most have experience in teaching social studies and the sciences. The kids involved come from all across the southeast. A mailing list for the program includes all North Carolina public schools, and selected schools in Florida. South Carolina and Georgia. The parents of the kids pay a tuition of $375, .vhich works out to a little more than regular college fees. Harris emphasized that the program demands more money because of the added supervision that this age group required. The program receives no federal money, according to Dr. Stallings. and is entirely self-supporting. THE PROGRAM DOES does not confine the kids to the WCU campus. Each child has at least one opportunity to leave campus for some school-related activity each week. Field trips may be taken to Gatlinburg. Brasstown. and local sites of interest. Older Former WCU student killed in auto accident A former WCU coed died after a three-car collision 1.1 miles north of Cullowhee on N. C. Hwy. 107 at approximately 6:55 p.m. Saturday, according to State Patrol Trooper H. Ben Brown, the investigating officer. Donna Dail Mertz. 22, of Rt. 2, Sylva. was pronounced dead on arrival shortly after 7 p.m. at C. J. Harris Community Hospital in Sylva, where she worked as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), Brown said. Ms. Mertz" s southbound Volkswagen Beetle swerved across the center line in a right curve in front of Hooper s Trailer Park, sideswiped a 1973 Ford Mustang driven by Danny Watson of Cullowhee, and hit a 1966 Pontiac driven by John B. Messer of Cullowhee head-on, according to Brown. The trooper said he doesn't know why or how Ms. Mertz swerved into the northbound lane. "Witnesses told me she couldn't have been going faster than 40 to 45 miles per hour, and there were no skid marks," he said. No charges have been filed. Messer. his wife, and three children, occupants of the Pontiac, were treated for minor injuries and released from C. J. Harris Saturday night. Brown said. Brown said the Volkswagen and Pontiac were totaled and the damages to the Mustang were between $300 and $400. Ms. Mertz was married to James R. Mertz. Jr.. a WCU graduate chemistry student, and had an infant child. Neither was involved in the accident. She was a 1975 graduate of the LPN program at Southwestern Technical Institute (STI) near Webster. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford. Photo by David Lees kids have a chance to visit the Flat Rock Playhouse theater, and atomic plants at Oak Ridge. Tennessee and in South Carolina. Some seventh graders will visit Boone during the Highlands Games at the gathering of the Clans near Grandfather Mountain. Older kids mav also go to Carowinds in Charlotte for a day. while others go to Deep Creek for tubing and a cookout. Other possible activities may include a trip to Sliding Rock, the Cherokee attractions and "Unto These Hills". When the kids are here on campus, educational entertainment is brought to them in the form of local old-timers who come to relate folklore and tell stories. Cherokee Indians who tell of Indian medicine and artists who come to discuss their work. The school, which was featured in Life Magazine several years ago. is geared for the individual students' needs and desires. If the student wishes to explore a field of study not readily available on campus, efforts arc made to go where research can take place. Problems arose last year when the number of students exceeded the limitations of the staff. 475 kids were in the program then, but enrollment was cut to 391 for this year. More personnel were hired this year so this program is much nearer to optimum efficiency. So far. it looks like this summer's program will be the best yet, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Gurncy Chambers who heads the project. Next year the program will be headed by Dr. Mill Clark, and from all indications, it should be a dynamic year for all involved. Meeting Tuesday There will be a meeting of Carolinian executive and staff members Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. All executive members are required to attend this meeting. Notice of absence must be given before the meeting.
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Western Carolina University Publications

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University’s student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolin...

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