UNION OBSERVER Tuesday, January 23, 1990 3 Hands-On Class Surprises Some Students War Brings Schools Together By STEVE LYTTLE Staff Writer UNIONVILLE About 50 Union County high school students recently spent a day learning about differences and some similarities. The students, juniors at Sun Valley and Piedmont high schools, are enrolled in the only humanities classes in the school system. And for a day earlier this month, they took part in a Civil War seminar that showed how much battlefield life has changed in 120 years. At the same time, though, the students learned how similar humanities classes are at the two schools. "We wanted to meet on something other than an athletic field," said Sun Valley High teacher Pat Wicker.
The classes spent the day at Ebenezer Baptist Church, northwest of Monroe, taking part in four different programs about the Civil War. Wicker taught about Mark Twain, or Samuel Clemens, and his experiences with the Civil War. Nora Books, also of Sun Valley, dressed in a general's uniform and led a group in a discussion of the topic "Generals and Battles" Piedmont High's Chris Riddle discussed a book written about Lucy Marsden, the widow of a Confederate soldier. The book, "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," was written about 30 years ago. And another Piedmont teacher, Dawn Stegall, led a group in the study of "The Life of a Soldier." While the students discussed these topics indoors, Piedmont history teacher Wade Morton Monroe Woman Crowned A Monroe woman recently won the title of Ms.
Anson Community College. Debbie Medlin was crowned at a pageant during the fall quarter at the school's campus in Polkton. She was among nine contestants in the competition, which also included a reception. Medlin, selected by a panel of judges, 1S a licensed Medlin practical nursing student at the school. Marshville's Rhonda Barrett, a general education major, was named first runner-up.
Another People was outdoors, demonstrating outdoor cooking as done during the time of the Civil War. He cooked eggs in a bag, steak and cobbler all done over an open fire as soldiers did in the mid 1800s. The food Morton cooked also served as lunch for the students, who visited him during the day to watch him at work. The entire program resulted from a discussion by Stegall and Brooks on an escalator last summer in Arlington, Va. They were taking part in the Close-Up Program, which allows students a first-hand look at the operation of U.S.
government. "One of us said, 'Wouldn't it be great to bring our teachers and our students Stegall recalled. The teachers said that planning such an academic gettogether was not easy. "Finding a place to meet wasn't real easy, but we finally worked through that," Brooks said. "Now that we've been together like this, we're thinking about doing it again later this year, when we study Vietnam," Wicker said.
Students said they found the intensive study on Civil War topics to be interesting. "I thought the 'Life of a Soldier' was really fascinating," Piedmont student Don Barrett said. "I was surprised about the way they rationed food. They didn't really get that much." Fellow Piedmont student Shane Smith said, "Social aspects of the war fascinated me. It was surprising what was happening in people's lives away from the battlefield." The teachers provided some Union County student, Kathy Mills of Marshville, was second runner-up.
Mills is majoring in accounting. Other Union County women in the competition were Jamie Ashcraft of Wingate, Tammy Miller of Monroe, and Sandra Robinson of Monroe. Students Sponsor Dance A group of Union County high school students who attended a special program last summer to discourage drug abuse worked together last week to sponsor a drugfree dance in Monroe. The students took part in the Student Athlete Summer Institute at UNC Charlotte. The four-day program focused on ways in which student-athletes can use their position as peer leaders to influence others to stay away from drugs.
Piedmont High teacher Wade lesson on the Civil War era. surprises for their students. Wicker said that few of the students, all juniors, were aware of Twain's role in the war. "I showed his unsuccessful attempt to be in the war," she said. "He was in the Confederate army for two weeks, with a group called the Marion Rangers in Notes Saturday night, the students conducted the dance at the National Guard Armory in Monroe.
Students who took part in the program were Marcus Crow, Denettra Parker, Robert Myers and Ro McBryde, of Forest Hills High; Andy Grant, Julie Griffin, Monique Clinton and Jamie Kritzer, of Parkwood High; Stephanie Brantley, Patrick Shearon, Michael Baker, Angie Thomas and Greg Baucom, of Piedmont High; Ron Rutherford, Ashley Cavin and Leslie Boles, of Sun Valley High; and Betsy Glenn and Lance Keziah, of Monroe High. Tops At Appalachian A large group of Union County youths recently was among those named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Appalachian State University in Boone. Morton (third from right) demonstrates Missouri. The soldiers had no experience, no order. When a man in the group was killed, Twain quit." Riddle said Lucy Marsden's stories about the war also provided a fresh look at life in those days.
"She was a rather spicy per- To receive the award, a student must earn a grade-point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale). Union County students receiving the honor were Cindy Edwards, Indian Trail, a freshman, majoring in biology and secondary education; Sandy Edwards, Indian Trail, sophomore, criminal justice; Wendy Edwards, Indian Trail, freshman, mathematics and secondary education. Also, Tana Gay Haigler, Indian Trail, senior, political science; Michelle Hatley, Indian Trail, freshman, middle-grade education; Pamela Helms, Monroe, junior, elementary education. And, Jean Hinson, Marshville, senior, hospitality management; Kimberly Litton, Marshville, freshman, special education; Leslie Nance, Marshville, junior, elementary education; Paula Nance, Monroe, junior, marketing. cooking over a fire during a son, and I think the kids enjoyed her honesty," Riddle said.
"It was a look at the war in a way they had never seen before." "This whole day was a dream come true," Brooks said. "The administration at our two schools helped a lot. "This is what education is all about." Also, Kelly Pressley, Monroe, junior, art education; Tisha Quinn, Monroe, freshman, marketing; Ashley Rabon, Monroe, senior, finance. And, Carolyn Smith, Monroe, senior, communications; Todd Walters, Monroe, sophomore, finance; and David Williams, Monroe, junior, finance. Pfeiffer Honors 2 Two Union County students were named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Pfeiffer College, in the Stanly County town of Misenheimer.
To be eligible, students must receive a grade-point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Students named to the list were J. Lyan Coble of Monroe and Kimberly Kocik of Marshville. Compiled by Steve Lyttle.
