Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – While most teen-agers don’t give a lot of thought to nuclear weapons, a select number of Presque Isle High School students are knee-deep in the issue thanks to a unique opportunity given to them by the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif.
According to Fran Barter, English teacher and chair of the English department at PIHS, the school has been selected as a participant in the Critical Issues Forum (CIF), an outreach of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, an affiliate of Middlebury College.
Using a curriculum based on recommendations of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Research Council, the CIF provides for interaction of students from both the United States and Russia.
“Approximately 10 schools from the U.S. and 10 from Russia participate,” said Barter. “Issues explored include proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and ballistic missiles. This year’s topic requires students to assess how much progress the world has made – and is likely to achieve – with respect to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.”
Barter first became aware of the CNS through Jessica Varnum, a 2002 PIHS graduate.
“Jessica is an alumnus of Colby College and received her master’s degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is employed by the Institute where she engages in research involving nuclear nonproliferation,” said Barter. “Jessica credits a physics and an English class at PIHS for having piqued her interest in nonproliferation. Her work on our behalf testifies to her appreciation of the education she received in SAD 1. Without her, this extraordinary opportunity never would have been extended to us.”
Varnum said while nonproliferation is a complex topic, high school students are more than capable of tackling the issue.
“I became interested in nonproliferation while studying at Presque Isle High School, and am therefore in a unique position to understand the value of nonproliferation education for high school students,” she said. “There is a tendency to underestimate high school students, and to think they are too young to study complex issues like nuclear nonproliferation. I believe that the high school level is the ideal time to introduce these issues to students because they are young enough to believe they can make a difference in the world and they are looking for issues to care about.
“I suggested that PIHS apply to the Critical Issues Forum because I know how exceptional its academic programs are, and I wanted more high school students from my hometown to have opportunities to broaden their intellectual horizons and become global citizens,” said Varnum. “Whether or not the students walk away from their participation in the program wanting to study nonproliferation, I believe that they will learn that responsible citizenship means caring about both their local and global community because global challenges – from nonproliferation to climate change – affect everyone.”
Science teacher Linda Palmer attended a teacher development workshop in Monterey Nov. 12-14 hosted by CNS.
“For two full days, we had speakers from the United Nations, the military and education give us a foundation of knowledge concerning nuclear nonproliferation … the historical, social and political aspects of it,” she said. “It was so stimulating.
“Part of the time we spent deciding how we would launch this in our individual schools,” said Palmer. “The experienced educators in the room would share their insight. It was very helpful, and through that total process, I was able to come back with very strong ideas about how this whole process would work.”
Students will have to write three papers and develop a multi-media presentation that will be critiqued and returned by the Institute.
“The first paper is due in February and it has to deal with nuclear science,” said Palmer. “The second paper, due in March, will deal more with the history of the treaties, how this all came about and where we stand now. Once they have both of those parts together, their multi-media presentation in April will integrate both of those to help show their stand on the issue. They could even say they’re not for nonproliferation or disarmament … it’s up to them to form their ideas. They just need to back up their beliefs. The third paper – due in May – will conclude the project.”
Palmer said Barter will be instrumental in helping the students develop the papers, while Zach Powers, social studies teacher and adviser of the debate team, will be key in having students justifying their positions. Also advising the team is school librarian Gretchen Asam.
Thirteen students have signed up to be part of the team.
“When I announced this to one of my classes, I had many people immediately raise their hand and express an interest,” said Barter of the completely voluntary program. “The students will get an awareness of just what ‘nuclear’ means. They didn’t grow up in the age of the Cold War, worrying about being bombed and ducking under their desks for a bomb drill.
“In order to be wise citizens and knowledgeable individuals, this is a very important part of what life is,” she said. “The students will not only have the satisfaction in having done this, but I think the contact from students from other parts of this country, and especially Russia, will be invaluable.”
The students’ work will be posted on the Internet for “all the world to see.”
“I think this will be a milestone moment for these kids,” said Palmer. “Teen-agers are idealistic … they have ideals about how things are and should be, and as they grow older – like most of us – we realize how things really work and we become cynical. They don’t have so much of that, so it’s good to get them in their pure form.”
In April, Barter, Palmer and two students will travel to Monterey to present the completed project.
“Our students will meet with other presenting students from the United States and Russia, which will be a tremendous opportunity for them,” said Barter, noting that the two students have not been selected yet.
Palmer and Barter said they are excited about the opportunity to participate in the CNS project.
“What I find very timely about this topic is that this year’s CIF project coincides with the run-up to the NPT Review Conference that will be held in May 2010, and President Obama has stated he is for disarmament,” said Palmer. “Students need to know that they are really actors in a very hot, political issue.”
“This is an opportunity for the kids to work with other schools in the country and in Russia on the issue of nuclear nonproliferation,” Barter said. “We’re excited about this because it’s ‘where the rubber meets the road.’ This is the real thing and very pertinent, which will make it more real for the kids.”
Team members have been meeting regularly to work on their papers and presentations.
School officials hope this could become the start of a long-lasting relationship with the CNS.
“I think this would be a great addition to our school,” said Palmer. “If we produce three papers and multi-media presentations of a quality that the Institute accepts, I think it’s possible that they would invite us to participate again.”
PIHS is the first Maine school to participate in the program, which is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ford Foundation.
FMI about the CIF, log onto www.criticalissuesforum.org.
PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL’S newly formed Critical Issues Forum (CIF) team, concerned with the topic of nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, met in the board conference room recently to set project deadlines and meeting schedules. In April, two teachers and two students will travel to Monterey, Calif. to present their completed projects. PIHS is the first Maine school to participate in the CIF program, an outreach of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, an affiliate of Middlebury College.
