European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes education wednesday april 20,1994 Dodds seniors make semifinals of elite program Washington is Twenty graduating seniors attending classes in department of de sense dependents schools in Europe and Bah rain Are among the 2,600 semifinalists in the 1994 presidential scholars program. The semifinalists were selected from More than 2.5 million students expected to graduate from . High schools this year. From the semifinalists 141 will be selected As the 1994 presidential scholars. The White House will announce the selections in mid May. Now in its 30th year the program is the High est Federal Honor bestowed upon graduating High school seniors. Scholars Are selected on the basis of Superior academic achievements leadership qualities Strong character and involvement in Community and school activities. The 2,600 semifinalists were selected for their exceptional performance on either the Scholastic assessment test of the College Board or the american College test program. Further consideration is based on students essays self assess ments description of activities school recommendations and school transcripts. A panel of educators will review the submissions and select 500 finalists this month. Final selection of the 141 scholars will be made by the White House commission on presidential scholars a group of about 30 eminent citizens appointed by the president. They will select one Young Man and woman from each state from the District of Columbia from puerto Rico and from among . Students living abroad along with up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts and 15 students at Large. Scholars will be invited to Washington d.c., for several Days in late june to receive the presidential scholar medallion at a ceremony and to participate in activities with their elected representatives educators and others in Public life. Hew Loero High school Germany Hek Helbero representing department of defense dependents schools in Europe Are senior school Robin Brofcak Union Central Haj of school England Layton Davis i Megan Flanagan Matthew & brow Robert bract Jeffrey Chaplin  Erlanna Gidwani Eric c. Ewart Patrick Jewell Jeremiah Lehman Nina Leonard Kraten Liechty Dawn Mararete Shannon o Leary Thomaa Robert Uhr Ota Kevin Steinman Malinda Wilson " Carey Winslow London Centra High school Ramstein High German Bahrain High school Wurzburg High school Germany Heidelberg High school  school England Ramstein High  High school Ottburg High school German Patch High school Stuttgart German Ramstein High school Bahrain High  school Germany  Germany Augsburg High school German Bahrain High schools a. -. Sas Dove Case Clifford West Frankfurt elementary s compensatory education teacher says he learns along with the kids. I m open to change. I refuse to   have Case fifth Grade science and math teacher Dorothy Dubois Neumann of Wetzel elementary in Baum older Ger Many shows off her presidential award for excellence. Science ing to ill Nam by Jimi Jones education writer bad Kissinger Germany every child can learn math and science and every teacher is capable of teaching it effectively says the Winner of a presidential award for excellence. I d like to see teachers lose their fear of math said Frankfurt elementary school teacher Clifford West who claims he was never a Good math student. When i started College i had to take a remedial math course said West the school s compensatory education teacher. He said he believes in learning some thing new every Day. I learn along with the kids West said. I m open to change. I refuse to  West and another award Winner fifth Grade science and math teacher Dorothy Dubois Neumann agree with most education theorists and researchers on Howath and science should be taught. For example they said it is almost impossible Formost children to learn abstract concepts the theory of rela Many teachers teach math the Way they Learned it in school. Some Are hesitant to take a risk. I get really frustrated because change is such a slow process i want them to change now and see How much fun it is Clifford West Frankfurt elementary school teacher Ivity or the origin of species until they have had some Concrete experiences with the world around them. What i remember Best is what i did said Dubois Neumann of her Early school years. Children learn Best by doing. They remember longer what they do the 14-year teaching Veteran said. At Wetzel elementary school in Baum older Dubois Neumann said she teaches science in a Concrete Way so that children can see feel touch hear. I get them involved right away and they love  the two department of defense dependent schools teachers recently went to Washington to accept the presidential awards for excellence for their classroom work in science and math. They were nominated by their schools and selected by Dodds afters Stemwede Competition. This Marks the fifth year that teachers in Dodds have been recipients of such awards. About 108 other teachers from throughout the United states also received awards at the ceremonies. West arid Dubois Neumann use teaching techniques that education experts say Best suit Young learners the methods Are part of an emerging trend in which teachers Experiment with new methods and materials that they say Are turning average and even below average students into budding Young scientists and mathematicians. I used to teach in front of class. I was the key role did the explanation gave directions assignments West said. I Don t do that  instead he said i give kids time to grapple with their problems to work on strategies to find a solution then do tons of  the children and teacher work together to prove or disprove theories he said. Yourl see kids taking risks hopefully losing their fear of making mistakes and realizing that that s just a part of  West has been the compensatory teacher at Frank Furt elementary for the past five years. Compensatory teachers work with pupils who May need assistance in particular subject. West does not pull youngsters out of their regular class rooms rather he visits first through fifth Grade Hom rooms and tries to get the classroom teacher involved. Many teachers teach math the Way they Learned it in school he said. Some Are hesitant to take a risk. I get really frustrated because change is such a slow process. I want them to change now and see How much fun it  Dubois Neumann said teachers must make a concerted Effort to keep up to Date. That s important she said. Learning never stops. I be never stopped educating myself. You must keep yourself abreast of All the new things coming your Way. Keep  pupils prove that the new methods work both teach ers said. We be discovered some kids that Are whizzes in math West said. We never knew it because they were often the kids creating All the problems in class. But now they re dog some really higher level  know they re succeeding when children ask Tor More Dubois Neumann  ask when can we do science can we have science All Day " she said. So we have a super Sci ence Day when we have nothing but science All  both teachers believe math and science must Start Early and must include hands on experiences.1 think we need to put some pressure on people to change because what we re teaching today is going to help kids in the 21st Century West said. People in business Don t want kids who have memorized facts West said. They want them to know relies to find answers and solutions but they want kids who can work together who Aren t afraid to take risks Aren t afraid of failing who will try a variety of solutions who will be problem solvers. We need to change if we re going to get