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  • Mt. Vernon Township High School added a second class to its Project Lead The Way Biomedical Sciences track when the MVTHS Board approved Human Body Systems to the curriculum. Students in the class who were preparing samples for an exercise Tuesday are, from left, Thomas Weber, David Medert and Elijah Phillips. CNHI

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February 2, 2012

MVTHS adds second class to track

BY ALLEN PARKER allen.parker@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A new class at Mt. Vernon Township High School has led to the addition of another science-related opportunity for students.

“The next class will be more medically based,” teacher Tammy Martin said.

The MVTHS District 201 Board voted unanimously to add Human Body Systems into its Project Lead the Way curriculum last month.

Martin said the current class offers a broad-based introduction to the fields of biology, chemistry, genetics and pharmacology.

“It’s a little bit of everything. I would anticipate some students in this class may study engineering. They may not want to be pharmacists,” Martin noted.

That may not be the case when Martin begins teaching Human Body Systems.

“The next class will really cater to those who want to be physicians and things like that,” Martin said.

Martin credited the MVTHS Board’s support during the process of adding a second track.

“Project Lead The Way was already started with an engineering track and this is another addition. The board was very supportive of the idea from the start and also of the existing program,” Martin explained.

MVTHS student Gauri Kaushal said the class has been beneficial to her education experience.

“It’s one of the best classes I have taken. That’s what I feel in my heart,” Kaushal said. “There is no way this can be considered a boring class. I feel more confident in what I’d like to do after taking the class.”

Kaushal said the lab environment is one of her favorite aspects of the class.

”I’m very visual and I like hands-on learning. This class is like that.”

Presently, MVTHS is one of only two schools in the state offering Biomedical Sciences, according to Knutson.

“We would just like to thank the board for their insight and support,” Rob Knutson, Directory of Career Technology Education Department and Assistant Principal said.

Martin said the class most likely contains future physicians, pharmacists and engineers. Knutson added that the ability of students to apply knowledge from a textbook is also a benefit.

“This is a chance for students to learn things and then apply it just like students would in math or physics,” Knutson said.

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