Taking Action on the SCANS Report.

T his year, thousands of high school students are sitting in traditional chemistry classes listening to their teacher lecture about molecules and compounds. Behind the teacher is a large chart of the peri odic table of elements. Students are taking notes and. before their next big exam, they will try to guess what Mr. Jones will ask on the test. They will then try to memorize the properties of the key molecular structures from a replica of the chart in their textbook. Many students in the school, espe cially the females, already have decided not to take Mr. Jones's chem istry course. College-bound young sters have chosen some less rigorous (although no more interesting) course to meet their science requirements. Students not planning on college have decided not to take any science course. Some of those who are in Mr. Jones's class are wondering why they let their parents or academic advisor talk them into taking chemistry, knowing in their hearts that they never will see a peri odic chart again if, by some stroke of fortune, they can ever get past Mr. Jones's dreaded final. Chemistry class is a different story this year at Southwest High School in Fort Worth. Texas. The class was asked to find the most effective, economical, and environmentally safe grass fertilizer for use on the grounds of the 104 Fort Worth schools. Working together, the students prepared a plan, including a proposed timetable and budget, for doing the work. They wrote to the school district's Grounds and Maintenance Department to find out about current fertilizing practices and to local nurs eries and fertilizer companies for information about fertilizers. They will interview plant specialists to learn about various types of grasses and their fertilizer requirements. They will study the chemical laws that describe the way that fertilizers work. Once they have determined the best fertilizer, the students will write the Grounds and Maintenance Department to share their conclusions. They will either congratulate them on their choice of fertilizer or urge a change in the G&M Department's practice. The Fort Worth students working together, interviewing professionals in the outside world, and engaging in an interesting and meaningful project are just as likely to leam the principles of chemistry as those in Mr. Jones's class. They are more likely to remember what they learned, under stand how chemistry is used in the real world, and become interested in science as a possible career. The Fort Worth students will also acquire other skills that will be useful whether they choose careers in science or other fields. They will learn how to: budget and schedule or, more broadly, allocate resources'. • work with classmates, experts, and groundskeepers or develop interpersonal skills; organize and evaluate data or handle information; • evaluate alternative technological solutions to the problem of grassgrowing or, more broadly, learn about technology. Finally, the students will also get to understand the system that really