This past Saturday the Penguin Bowl, a National Ocean Sciences Bowl, was held on the campus of Youngstown State University. The event was a competition among high school science teams.
Much to my surprise, not one city public or parochial high school participated. Some of our area's smaller high schools did attend. These included McDonald High School, East Palestine High School (sent 2 teams), and Leetonia High School (also sent 2 teams).
Why didn't our city schools participate in this event held in our own city? Are the students unable to prepare for the competition? Are the teachers unwilling to spend the extra time to field a competitive science team?
Ocean Sciences? In Ohio?
It seems like the funding for such a program would be one of the first things to be cut in a district desperately trying to save money.
A story about this quiz bowl appeared in the Sunday, February 22, newspaper.
someone should speak up about this no show attitude at the ysu science fair at the next Board of Education meeting. I say put fire under the feet of the BOE members and Wendy Webb's feet too to have reasonable answer.
Actually in recent (past several) Yo. middle and high schools have competed in Science-Robotics competitions held at YSU, sponsered by Lego Robotics and Carnegie Mellon, and received recognitions/trophies as well. Which demanded many extra after-school and vacation hoursAlpha Middle School has been and still is a N.A.S.A. sponsored Space Explorer School which has held many events and exhibitions at the school. It is also mandatory Science requirement that all students participate in Science Fair which Yo. students consistantly have reached the city and regional competition levels. So one could easily agree with Rowlands' post that cost may have been factor with the present Quiz Bowl event.
There was no charge for a school to enter a team in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl.
Quote from: jay on March 03, 2009, 07:02:48 AM
There was no charge for a school to enter a team in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl.
Maybe not, but was there money to keep a program like this in the YCS curriculum? My high school had (has?) a program like this, and it was more than just an after school/weekend type of program. It had more in common with a sport or band/choir program than a club.