[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  RECOGNITION OF SAMMAMISH HIGH SCHOOL

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Sammamish High 
School in Bellevue, WA, for innovation and excellence in education.
  While at home over the January recess, I organized a meeting of over 
200 parents, teachers, administrators, and students. At this conference 
I listened carefully to the concerns and ideas of those in attendance. 
While I heard many varied and different suggestions, one theme was 
constant. Innovative and resourceful programs which educators work hard 
to plan and execute deserve more recognition. I therefore promised to 
recognize, on a monthly basis, a school or school program that is 
outstanding and innovative. The original high school biology curriculum 
that was created by Mr. Ron Thompson, the biology teacher at Sammamish 
High School, is worthy of such recognition.
  Many national studies have consistently shown that many young 
students have an active interest in science and biology. However, by 
the time these students reach high school, this interest has often 
diminished. These same studies pointed to the fact that most high 
school science programs were taught simply from a textbook, following a 
general curriculum and relying on memorization and isolated learning. 
The standard high school curriculum did not teach key concepts and 
ideas important to understanding most scientific principles. Ron 
Thompson responded to this problem and designed an innovative program 
entitled ``Biology: As Scientific Inquiry.'' This new text and lab 
manual incorporates many new interactive ideas which draw students into 
the class and stimulate them to want to learn. It uses a team approach 
to problem solving which teaches the students to be efficient problem 
solvers, a skill in high demand by the employers of today. This 
curriculum has been so widely acclaimed it has been subsequently 
adopted in 10 States and 22 different school districts and received 
several national awards. Programs such as this are truly the key to the 
future of education.
  Mr. Ron Thompson and his innovative biology curriculum at Sammamish 
High School should continue to be promoted throughout Washington State, 
as well as the entire United States. Recognizing that a problem exists 
and taking the initiative to develop successful programs is the key to 
improving our education system.

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