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Show m Payg 14 mti&k January 18.2QQQ EDUCATION Uintah Basin Standard that most people have. The silent voice gains understanding at Union Andrea Harper successfully completed both beginning and advanced classes under the direction of Wentworth. She says that aha enrolled in tha class with her twin sister, Barbara, because it gave her a credit and permitted them to communicate with each other in a way that few could comprehend. Andrea said the class enabled her to express herself in a way aha had never experienced before. It was really interesting and different to not be able to verbalize your feelings. You had to learn to use sign language to communicate eveiything that you wanted to say," said Harper. Andrea also stated that most people do not realize how difficult it is for a deaf person, adding that she gained some understanding when she was shut out of a verbal environment. She said that class time was kept so quiet that it seemed very unusual or out of place when students made a sound or broke that silence. She stated that it helped her to understand how life would be as a hearing-impaire- d person and to deal with the frustration of signing to others and not being able to make them grasp what she wanted to communicate to them. After completion of the class, Andrea was able to help a young boy with Down Syndrome learn how to use sign language as a form of communication. It made her feel good to know that she helped someone else by means of her knowledge and understanding, she said. class Union High's certainly offers a unique opportunity of understanding for those students who have an interest in learning more about the deaf community and its significance in society. foreign-languag- ilete. By Amanda Jenkins If you were to ask any teacher if he'she has ever kept the students quiet throughout an entire class period, you would probably find only one who could answer yes. ItsUnion High teacher Kirk Wentworth. Kirk does not allow any or little, if any talking in his classroom, but a kit of communication takes place because Mr. Wentworth teaches three hours of sign language. Rather then verbally expressing themselves, students learn intricate hand signs, then use them to communicate duringclass time. Students speak with each other and Mr. Wentworth nonverbally to practice skills in simple their question-and-anawactivities. class has two The levels of expertise, each of which takes one full school year to com- - - - sign-languaer sign-langua- Students are given a T J foreign-nguag- e credit upon completion of the class. Most students who take the class have a personal interest in sign language or have personal involvement with someone who is hearing impaired. Wentworth said. Average class size per period is between seven and fifteen students. Mr. Wentworth has been teaching in the Duchesne County School at District for the past 20 years Union High for eight years where he has taught sign language for the past six. He commented that he felt class was somethe thing worth offering and that's why he began to teach it. There's a real narrow view of the deaf culture in our area,1 stated Mr. Wentworth. Most people do not really know how to react or deal with someone who is deaf. The class helps to widen the view - sign-langua- sign-langua- e sign-langua- Buckle Up and Save A Life! SIGNING TO STUDENTS-Unk- m High School teacher Kirk Wentworth uses American sign language during class. There is little to none verbal communication dial takes place during die session. hbtic Service AaawiMmcai by tbe Iintak Bttis SnadirS A helping hand from Altamont High Bv Amanda Jenkins Recently members of the gifted and talented class from Altamont High School decided to lend a help ing hand to the people of Turkey, who recently suffered devastating earthquakes in their country. The class organized a drive in their school to collect sweaters, stuffed animals, and other warm belongings. After collection, the donations were taken to Salt Lake City for delivery to the people of Turkey. Altamont High's gifted and talented class consists of: Merri Tew, Jentri Sorensen, Amanda Jenkins, Amber Henry. Jerilee Jenson, Anika Carlson, and Steffani Jensen. Donna Barton is the advisor. These students work on ACT preparation, service prqjects, and are now preparing for an upcoming sterling-schola- r competition. from Altamont High's gifted and talented class WARM GIFTS-Stude- nts the earthquake recently gathered quilts, sweaters, and toys to donated to devastated country of Turkey. Are all educators qualified for subjects they teach x Nearly 900 Utah educators have insufficient credentials for the subCEU jects they teach, a report from the State Office of Education shows. The number of insufficient credentials, however, has dropped from a DHS ago when more than 1.000 educaA crowd of 50 parents and stutors were teaching out of their field dents filled tha Duchesne High of expertise. School science room last Monday During its meeting Thursday, the night to hear the "ins and outs of Stats Board of Education granted financial aid. With college costs ristemporanr teaching authorizations ing and scholarships harder to find, to 336 of tha educators. It earlier authorized 556 temporary licenses. parents are very interested in learnThere are 240 teachers who will ing all they can about money for be removed from the unqualified list college, according to John Foster, counselor at Duchesne High School. once their paperwork and criminal All DHS seniors and their parents background checks are completed. were invited to attend the workshop Another 26 art considered either which was arranged by Foster and eminently qualified or have been conducted by Bill Osborn, financial granted exemptions because of their aid director at the College of Eastern work experience. Utah. In addition, a presentation on The rest are teachers who have been assigned to desses for which scholarships was given by his assiselittieori training. In 406 tant, Kale Peacock. they During the workshop, students cases, the teachers have valid licenses and parents were informed about fortheir main teaching assignments, the costs ofattending college in Utah. but are teaching one or two classes Snow College and tha College of out of their field, said Janice Brown, Eastern Utah were the two least teacher licensing supervisor. There are 83 teachers listed as expensive, with total average costa around $6000 per year. The most "under qualified with no teaching expensive Utah school listed was degree, and 39 whose teacher license has expired and need to comWestminster, with an average annual cost of $19,000, including tuplete coursework. An additional 30 are underqualified but exempted ition, fees, books, and living expenses. Mr. Osborn then displayed a because they are teaching in a rural chart which displayed how a person's setting. In 68 cases, districts have earnings increases with hiaher level ofeducation. The general consensus ised that the assignment will of tha participants appeared to be only one year. that a college education coats a lot of Utah has soma 25,000 active pubmoney but is well worth the effort lic school teachers and counselors. After tome discussion on the differStats law requires that all have a ent types of financial aid available, proper license for the area they teach. such as work-studstudent loans, ' For example, an elementary lead parent loans, and grants. Mr. Osborn. .. ing certificate is ncedadfor. a person Pell to teach first through sixth grade or Elided everyone through tha application, line by line, and a secondary 'certificate for seventh gave them tips which would increase through 1 2th grade. Special educa- -' their success in obtaining a grant tion teachers a different cer- The financial aid workshop is an tificate. annual event at Duchesne High Teachers then get "endorseSchool end those who attended felt ments to teach specific subject arit was very worthwhile end informaeas. Those endorsements range from tive. art to zoology. If a teacher is assigned to a suboutside the area for which they Work? ject are endorsed, district officials must notify the State Office of Education to receive authorization. We do patches, basements, Educators teaching out of their remodels, or full houses. field have three yean to get the proper credentials. Districts that place teachers in 722-295- 0 areas where they are under qualified without notifying the State Office ofEducation will have state funds withheld. Brown said in most cases, Utah principals do not willingly put teachers into spots for which they are unqualified, but arecaught in a numbers game. For example, a school may find that it needs to offer an extra section of mathematics. Unable to hire a teacher for one class, the spot is filled with a teacher already on staff, hopefully with math experience. ' All districts say they struggle to find enough teachers in certain critical-need areas. Qualified candidate conducts financial aid workshop at y; Need Drywatt WORKING IT to develop skills in OUT-Stude- nts non-verb- al in American Sign Language courses participate in a question and answer exercise communication. From Call Kandy Wireless PCS Paging Cellular UBTA COMMUNICATIONS 722-23- 55 789-23- 55 math and in physics, higher-levvocational areas often can get higher pavingjobt outside the teaching field. The situation is worse in rural areas where tha candidate pools ars smaller. el National groundhog job shadow day scheduled Feb. 2 On February second, employers from all over Roosevelt and Duchesne County will be participating or the third annual National Groundhog Job Shadow Day by bringing students into the workplace for a firsthand look at how tha skills they learn in school ate relevant to tha real world. This is a wonderful opportunity for students grades 9 12 to spend a day in the community taking a look at a career that they might be interested in pursuing. Many employers in the area have already expressed interest in hosting students for the day. If you as an employer are interested and have not been contacted or have not made contact with Union High School its simple to get involved. Call Jan Gurr or Ina Nielson with tha Duchesne County School to Careen Program Give a job or at 7 shadow a place in the sun. Are you a student who is inters ested in doing a job shadow. Drop into the counseling office and talk to any of the personnel there. Our goal 2 is to plan as many student grades in tha Duchesne District as w ran on Feb. 2. Student at Altamont, Duchesne and Tabiona can give their names to their couni lon and they can in turn get them to someone itUnk and we will do our best to accommodate you. Remember that we will try to fit your job shadow with an area that you are interested in as a potential career. Taka this opportunity to see what may be available. Its s step in the right direction. 722-651- 722-200- 9-1- offers arts grants SLOC The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), in partnership with the Utah Arts Council, is offering 30 grants of up to $3,000 each to com- munity and arts organisations throughout the state. Tha Commu nity Heritage Invitational grants must be used to stage a performance. exhibition or other event in individual Utah communities between Jan. 29, and March 19. The Utah Arts Council will administer the program for the 2002 Cultural Olympiad. The grants must be matched on a basis in cash or Community organisations interested in applying for a grant should roll tha Utah Arts Council at (801) Applications must be postmarked no iter than April 3. one-to-o- valuo-in-kin- 236-754- i3iiAgmwnBwigr& Union PTSA Meeting Union High School PTSA meeting for January has been changed due to finals. The meeting is now set for Thursday, Jan. 20 during 1 st period. All members are encouraged to at tend. Please meet in the auditorium at 8:20 am. Sorry for the inconvenience. Call Gail Fauci, Union or home 1 for more details. 722-247- 4 722-331- GEDTest Uintah School District will beofferingtheGEDTeet on Friday.Saturday, Jan. 28 29, at the Uintah School District Office, 635 West 200 South. The test will begin at 6 p.m. Friday. Jan. 28. Thoee interested in lakingthe test need to fill out an application by 5 p.m., Friday. There is a fee to lake the test For questions call Elaine at 781-310- 0. LOCAL RATES AND LONG DISTANCE STILL APPLY 3843 S US Hwy 40, Roosevelt 609 W Main, Vernal Did You Know? Our schools have to sell pop, candy and other items to get funds for things that are not provided. UTAH STUDENTS DESERVE MORE Duchesne EJucaiion Association Poor t-!- ; |