Brewer High School - Patrian Yearbook (Somerville, AL)

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156 T.M.H. 1 l , l i M, W ,Q ,V 2 I 2 l Top Photo: Darryl Light uses a drill press to drill holes. To m the Right: Matt McNutt cuts if -P liii A drain holes in a bird house.

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Distribution ,al Steven Childers experiments with the D.E. computer. jack Fields purchases a folder from Theresa Holmes Plan The plan of excellence initiated by State Superintendent Wayne Teague for Alabama public schools has brought about changes at Brewer High School. These changes came about because the plan specifies that all Alabama public schools must have 360 minutes of instructional time per day. Because students are bused to and from six feeder schools, the Brewer school day could not be extended without adding extra time to the schedule at these feeder of Excellence schools. This created a scheduling problem: how to get the required amount of instructional time in the existing school time. To increase in- structional time, Mr. Tucker cut the amount of time alloted for homeroom, for lunch break, and for time between classes, and added this time to the existing class time. Another change affecting Brewer included the section of the plan which requires students to attend school for 175 days per school year. Because of this part of the plan, students are no longer allowed to ex- empt mid-term and final exams. The previous exemption policy was bas- ed on academic average, attendance and conduct. Even though Mr. Tucker and the faculty voted to keep the exemption policy, the plan, as it was approved, does not provide for exemptions. The plan has just been initiated in- to the school system.NMore changes may develop in the future. Marketing and Distribution 155

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The first thing that comes to mind when school is mentioned is either the three R's or nothing but books and lectures. This is true in many cases but not all. One class, Trainable Mentally Handicapped QTMHJ, does all this and much more. The class routine includes learning, but in many different areas, including us- ing a calculator, reading and writing, filling out forms and using power tools. Soon, Mr. Tim Dunlap, their instructor hopes to be able to teach the students how to use a microwave oven. Each year the students learn to use power tools so that they can make projects to sell. Mr. Dunlap teaches them assembly line work so they can learn how each person depends on another. The way he divides the work is by the skills of the students. Last year, blue-bird houses were sold. Mr. Dunlap promised the students a pizza party when the first thirty were sold. The students reach- ed this goal before the houses actual- ly went to market. Mr. Dunlap said, They work very hard and take ad- vantage of every opportunity they get. Anyone who sees the students working in class can see just how true this is. Mr. Dunlap has one aide, Mrs. Fray Wiggington, who helps with functional academics and leisure time activities, such as making latch-hook rugs, wall hangings, and vine and straw wreaths. Mrs. Yvonne Quattlebaum teaches the students adapted physical educa- tion, which involves teaching aerobics, badminton, Croquet, dances that help with eye-hand coordina- tion, and training for the Special Olympics. One student said that Mrs. Quattlebaum is pretty cool when she works with the class. Samantha Alis and Norma McNutt paint wooden toys. This student works on a hooked rug. T.M.H. 157