I wanted to share my perspectives about my
daughter, Clara Lengacher’s experience at the ILC Experimental Physics
Discovery at UPenn this summer.
To start, I feel that this program is creative,
forward thinking and exactly the type of program that we should be seeing more
of in the educational community. Partnerships with institutions of higher
learning are vital to the articulation, matriculation and improved success of
our students. The combination of social skills, networking, and the high
quality of the educational experiences should be accessible to all and I feel
this program opens doors for our young people to make connections, experience
social interaction in a way that they might not be accustomed to, and pursue a specific
subject of interest to them.
From my experience at the kick off dinner and
discussions with various alumni of UPenn and major donors to ILC, I was
encouraged about the state of education in our community and heartened to know
that it extends across the country.
I Skyped with my daughter every week and was
updated on the amazing things they were doing in class, the people she met
within the program and during visits to the other schools besides UPenn, and
about the new folks she met in her Physics program, not just from all over the
United States, but the World.
My only constructive criticism of the entire
process is that perhaps the interactions between the ILC staff and the
students, in public forums, could be administered in a more respectful fashion.
I witnessed an interaction at the dinner at La Folie that I felt was somewhat
degrading and embarrassing to the individual. I realize the importance of
developing their social skills in a short amount of time, but wonder if this could
be done in a more mindful and respectful manner. I don’t think there is any
benefit in dressing down a young person if front of their peers or adults that
they may or may not know.
Thank you for your vision, time and energy in
thinking outside the box, creating valuable opportunities for the students of
this district, and for changing the lives of those individuals fortunate enough
to participate.
Bruce Lengacher
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