DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / October 4, 2000

GARYVILLE – In an effort to improve the quality of life through better maintaining of the environment, Charla Duhe, a Garyville/Mt. Airy Math andScience Magnet School teacher, spent part of her summer studying in Colorado.

Every year 50 teachers are selected from across the country to attend the Key Issues Institute in Silverthorne Colorado. With a $2,700 grant fromCargill Grain, Duhe was selected to study at the week-long session to help enhance the hands-on science experience for students at the magnet school.

Cargill sends a teacher almost every year to the institute, including Doris Gerhart and Jan Stein, also from the magnet school. “As soon as I heardabout it I was more than willing to go,” said Duhe.

During the session Duhe learned how to collect water samples using the natural mountain streams. “We learned about what’s dangerous, parts permillion, oxygen amounts, nitrates, phosphates and such,” said Duhe.

The teachers were given a test project, with scenarios of people getting sick and the teachers having to track down the source. At first they didn’tweren’t told that it was only a mock up of an event and dealt with the study as a real occurrence, said Duhe.

They tested water samples, tracking down the source of the pollution causing the illnesses. The practice field study is now on the internet, whereDuhe’s students can follow in her study and try the case.

Duhe learned all sides of the environmental issues. As part of the teachers’educations they role played different agencies involved in environmental issues. Duhe played the part of businesses and corporations. “It made mevery much more informed of the issues and rules that businesses have to maintain environmental quality,” said Duhe.

With the institute letting her keep her water testing kits, the field study is one of the subjects the students at the magnet school will be doing this year.

With help from Cargill, Duhe and the other science teachers have much more planned. The school has two courtyards for the students use, though thewetland section and the greenhouse has overgrown and is in need of work.

Dale Tyson, Cargill manager, has promised to help bring the courtyards back to a condition where the students can use them in their studies. Duheenvisions a mini-ecosystem, where the students can study the effects of wind, rain and soil erosion in all styles of land.

The wetland and greenhouse, though, are the first order of business. A newpump is to be installed in the wetland exhibit, thus allowing the water to circulate and proper conditions be set for life in the small marsh. Thegreenhouse fan was originally installed backwards. Tyson has promised someof his maintenance men will help reinstall the fan, thus allowing proper circulation of the air, required for plant growth. “We’ll be able to grow plantsand have plant sales and experiments,” said Duhe.

Another serious concern, shared by the teachers and Tyson, is recycling and waste in St. John Parish. With no recycling pickup supplied by WasteManagement, both Tyson and Duhe are planning to get the students involved in informing the community on how they can do their own recycling. Thestudents will find out where trash is located, how to clean it up, where to take it and how to file petitions for recycling programs.

The main purpose of the trip to Colorado and the programs to come is environmental awareness. “People just need to be aware. Sometimes youcan’t smell pollution in the water and air,” said Duhe. By testing differentwater areas around St. John Parish, including the drinking water of their ownschools, Duhe hopes to make the students more informed about their environment.

Cargill, has and continues to play a big part in the education of St. Johnstudents.

“Tyson is really a dynamic person and ready to get involved in the school,” said Duhe.

Cargill has played a big part in the student achievement programs at Leon Godchaux Junior High School. There Cargill supports the Real World Program,where students play the part of adults, getting jobs, paying bills and even getting married. The aid given to the magnet school “tends to be a littlemore science focused,” said Tyson. “The courtyard has lots of possibilitiesto be involved in creating a learning environment. We think we can do someinteresting stuff to help fix it up,” he added.

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