CLASS OF 2000: SCIENCE AMONG CHOICE SUBJECTS

They are the class of 2000, a fact that L.J. Schultz Middle School students have been reminded of since they first entered the halls of formal education.

"We heard about it a lot in the earlier grades," Schultz student Derek Engelmann said. "It's not mentioned too much in the seventh grade, but we know that by the time we become seniors in high school everyone will be watching and waiting to see how we turn out. I guess there's a little bit of pressure."

Kelly Phillips, Engelmann's teacher at Schultz, said the reminders have been both verbal and visual. "For a long time they've been told that they are a special class," Phillips said. "They have special T-shirts printed that say the Class of 2000. I think they feel they have something to live up to. It seems to make them better students."

This being American Education Week, students at Schultz School were asked what they thought about education and how it would affect their lives as they approach junior high school.

Engelmann, who plans to embark on a career in the military, said he is concentrating on science and social studies. "If you want to navigate a ship or fly an airplane, you have to know how to read instruments and maps," Engelmann said.

One of Engelmann's favorite classes, outside of science and social studies, is music. "I play the trumpet right now and plan to take private lessons from Josh Lemar at Cape Central High School," Engelmann said. "That should help me when I play the bugle for the Boy Scouts."

Engelmann's neighbor, Col. Jack Grisham, has had a big influence on the Schultz student's interest in the military. "He gave me some medals and his Green Beret hat," Engelmann said. "He's always asking me how I'm doing in school. That makes me want to do better so I can go back and tell him I've made good grades."

Katrina Allen said she is not sure what career she will pursue. However, Allen said she has thought about being a teacher. "I like school a lot, and I like the way my teachers talk to our class," Allen said. "They make it so the material isn't boring."

Allen is intent on bringing her average, now at B-plus, to A. "My sister, Tewauna, who is in the 11th grade at Cape Central, gets good grades," she said. "I want to do the same. Getting good grades makes me feel proud of myself. I like science and social studies a lot. I guess I like all of my classes. I also like joining clubs and getting involved in things like student council, Beta and peer mediation."

Phillips taught Engelmann and Allen a few years ago. "I think it's interesting to watch how they develop over the years," Phillips said. "Just seeing how they change makes it more interesting as a teacher."

Derek Hale said he looks forward to science class every day. "It's my favorite," he said. "I wish there were no clock in the room to tell us how long we have before it's over."

Hale is fascinated with the discoveries he makes with a microscope. "I like studying different things under a microscope," he said. "I take a lot of notes and then apply what I've learned from that when we have lab. It's fun to look at something like hair, too."

Like many of his classmates, Hale said he isn't sure what field he will choose. But he has thought about being a policeman. "Being a police officer might be a good job to have."

Asked if he might want to use the skills he is acquiring in the science lab to investigate crime, Hale replied, "I guess that would be something I could use it for."

What do students at Schultz not like? "I wish we had air conditioning when it's hot out," Hale said.