Writing Prompt #7: Academia

Prompt #7: Describe a personally significant member of the faculty; or describe a class (or your class schedule) in your Junior year at NCSSM.

Deadline: June 30th

Details: Describe a member of the original NCSSM faculty who had a meaningful effect on your life. Alternatively: Describe a memorable class that you took in your junior year; or describe the list of class options, the weekly class schedule, or the academic requirements for graduation, and how they affected you personally.

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Background:

Staff Hiring

"Under the direction of Dr. Cecily Selby, Special Assistant for Academic Planning, the huge job of screening candidates for faculty positions is well underway. Dr. Selby, assisted by others of the staff, has read hundreds of applications, has conducted some preliminary interviews, and has set up a schedule of formal interviews with a selection committee to be conducted between now and March 31, 1980."

[Directors Letter to the Board of Trustees, March 1980; NCSSM Historical collection; NCSSM Digital Collection]

Original faculty

Adjunct faculty members - William McCloud, Joseph Mitchell, and H. Braughn Taylor
Ross Baker - Instructor of Biology. AB - UNC CH. MS - NCSU.
Kevin C. Bartkovich - Instructor of Mathematics (part time). MAS/MSE - Johns Hopkins
Charles "Chuck" Britton - Instructor of Physics. BS - Duke. PhD - Univ. of Florida.
Neill Clark - Instructor of English. BA, MA, PhD
C. Stephen Davis - Instructor of Math & Computer Science; Head of the Division of Math and Computer Science. AB, MA, PhD Univ. of Wisconsin.
Dorothy "Dot" Doyle - Instructor of Mathematics. BS - ECU. MA - ECU
Randolph Foy - Instructor of Music. BM - Oberlin Coll. MA - Univ. of Iowa
James Henry - Head of Media Services. BS - Methodist Coll. M Ed - UNC CH
Donald Houpe - Instructor of Languages. BA - Hampden-Sydney Coll. PhD - UNC CH
Joseph "Joe" Liles - Instructor of Art. BA - NCSU. MS - Univ. of Michigan
Rena Lindstrom - Guidance Counselor. BA, M Ed.
Jacqueline "Jackie" Meadows - Instructor of Social Studies. BA - Bennett Coll. MS - NC A&T Univ.
Jon Miller - Instructor of English. AB - Davidson. PhD - UNC CH.
Rosemary Oates - Instructor of Latin. BA, MA.
Rufus Owens - Instructor of Chemistry. AB, Ph D.
Ama Shabazz - Instructor of French & English. BA - Lawrence Univ. MA - San Jose State Univ.
Elizabeth "Liz" Turner - Librarian
Virginia Wilson - Instructor of Social Sciences. AB, PhD - Duke Univ.

[The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Dedication Week Program [October 6-11, 1980]; NCSSM Ephemera; NCSSM Digital Collection]

*Not listed with faculty - Branson Brown - Sports Coordinator

Instructional Program:

There is no record in the NCSSM Digital Archives of a Course Catalog for the 80-81 school year. There is only a document called "Instructional Program for Eleventh Grade Students [July 1980]" - A general outline of NCSSM's academic program during its first year written by the Dean for Academic Affairs, Cecily Cannan Selby. The following is a summary of the requirements:

All students will take at least one course in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics during 2 years. All will have Lab Periods. Mini-courses may be developed aligning with interest and proficiency:

All of the following (within 2 years):
Advanced Biology
Chemistry
Physics or Calculus based Physics

All students will take a Mathematics course, in 11th grade, matched to their ability level. Each course will have a Computer Science Lab. Topics may be developed for independent study:

One of the following:
Algebra II with Trigonometry
Algebra II with Precalculus
Precalculus
Precalculus/Calculus Intro
Calculus BC
Calculus with Several Variables
Differential Equations

Every 11th grader will take an American Studies program, taught by a team of one English and one Social Sciences instructor, "presenting American culture through American history, literature, government, economics and the arts." Course will be concluded with a major research paper. Once weekly seminars are expected.

Both of the following:
American Studies - English
American Studies - Social Studies

Every 11th grader will take a foreign language. (At least two consecutive years in the same language required during high school.)

One of the following:
Spanish
French
Latin
German

Every 11th grader is expected to take a course in the arts, which will include lesson time and also time for music ensembles (wind ensemble, chorus) or art studio work (paint, drawing, photography, screen printing).

One of the following:
Music
Art

In summary, for most 11th grade students these requirements meant:

at least 6 classes - possibly 7
1 or 2 science labs
a computer lab
a major research paper
participation in a music ensemble or art studio

an independent special project

community service

work service

Link to a copy of the document: Instructional Program for 11th Grade.

[Instructional Program for Eleventh Grade Students [July 1980], Cecily C Selby, NCSSM Digital Collection.]

Interdisciplinary approach to the arts:

"The skilled and experienced teachers forming the founding faculty of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics will find ways to demonstrate through the School’s special focus on science arid mathematics, the interrelationships of all learning and the transferability and special value of such skills as analysis, synthesis, listening, observing, recording and simulating."