Head of School's Blogs
Nerds at ISB
by Bill Gerritz 2 February, 2009
Athletics, music, dance, drama, community service and more --- ISB offers these as afternoon and weekend activities. Our students have wonderful opportunities to develop their talents as dancers, actors, singers, and rugby players. But what does ISB offer nerds?
I am a nerd and have been since about age 9. I love science, math and computers. When I was a kid, I had a basement workshop where I built and operated receivers, transmitters, and other electronic contraptions. I loved science fairs. For the 7th grade fair, I tried to build an apparatus that would measure the charge on a single electron. I failed badly and later learned that the experiment had earned a Nobel Prize 30 years before. However, I learned a lot in the process! I still love to read science books and magazines. My nerdiness caused me to get degrees in chemistry and math and opened all kinds of career opportunities.
Many ISB students are also nerds. They would love to have a place where they could go after school and on weekends that had the equipment and programs that would allow them to build stuff, to do experiments, to program computers, and to invent things. A place where an adult nerd with the heart of a teacher could guide them.
We already have the beginnings at ISB. For example, Mr. Eales, physics teacher in the high school, has been leading an Inventor Society . Last year, they built a 2 seat hovercraft. This year they are building a green golf cart. In Mr. Hochberg’s classes students have an idea, make a detailed drawing and plan, and turn it into reality. Sometimes I think his classes turn regular students into nerds. This of course in my view is a very good thing.
What we need is an INVENTION CENTER with the right equipment and the right adult guidance and direction. A place where nerds can flourish, developing their passion and skills. With Cultural Center construction starting, we will soon have space at ISB for the Invention Center. I have been hunting for the past two years to find schools that have such programs already in place. No luck so far. If you know of such a program or have related ideas please let me know.
Read more post from the Head of School's BlogsAbout the Author
Bill received his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley. He has written over 20 journal articles and has an abiding interest in learning improvement. Prior to ISB, Bill headed schools in Holland and South America. He and his wife Marcia have 3 sons.
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