[Excerpts from “Science with a Smile.” Northwest Missouri State University Alumni magazine Fall 09: 10-13. Reprinted with permission.]
Science with a Smile
Cal Goeders is a man who developed a multi-million dollar business by creating infection control products, and ironically it’s his smile that is infectious. For instance, with the warm smile of a grandfather, Goeders, who graduated from Northwest [Missouri State University] in 1953, has found a way to successfully bridge the generational gap while getting youngsters excited about science.
As a volunteer at Longview Elementary School, the “reviews” from a few of his students, presented as wonderfully illustrated thank-you booklets at the end of the school year, tell the story:
Thank you, Mr. Goeders, for a great year. You rock! You’re the best science teacher ever. I will always remember you. I love science so much!
But at 78 years of age, Goeders is more than a volunteer. He is a man who 12 years ago had the vision and determination to establish a program where retired scientists and engineers volunteer their time and expertise to a local Title One elementary school in hopes of not only raising test scores but also encouraging students to develop an interest in science.
“Because of my Northwest education and business experience, this was a situation tailor-made for me,” Goeders said. “I’ll admit, I had a lot of failure that first year when I was trying to get this program started, but, if you’re adaptive, failure teaches you. I’m proud to say that our 10-year achievements are very impressive, and people like me live and die by the data.”
Impressive indeed. In 2002, based on standardized tests, only 13 percent of Longview Elementary’s fifth graders were at an “advanced” proficiency level in science, and another 13 percent were at the other end of the chart, considered “not proficient.” By 2008, the number of “advanced” science students had soared to 57 percent, and another 39 percent were considered “proficient.” Not a single student fell in the “not proficient” category.
“We need these young students to have a little bit of glimmer of what science is all about,” Goeders said. “I hear them say they love science or they want to be a scientist. Even if their concept is a little flawed, it’s a real transformation – and it’s exciting to witness.”
The students aren’t the only ones who enjoy the offerings of the “science guys,” as they’re affectionately called. Second-grade teacher Lisa Dickey knew Goeders was something special as soon as he entered her classroom.
“This was my 30th year teaching, and when a good thing like Cal walked in the door and asked if he could help with science, I immediately said ‘yes’ and then ‘who are you, and what is the plan!’” Dickey said. “Experience told me this was going to be a good thing, and what he brings to the classroom is just perfect.”
Performing elaborate experiments to “wow” the students is not on the agenda. The curriculum is too tight, Dickey said. Instead, the volunteers supplement the instruction provided by the teachers throughout the year. Schemes are developed to improve the delivery of, and extensions to, the hands-on science activities customized to units being studied at each grade level...
“Cal and the science volunteers are wonderful mentors and role models,” [Principal Pam] Kastl said. “The kids have no idea how affluent these men and women are, and many of them are able to tell the students that they, too, came from humble beginnings. They let kids know they can overcome any situation, and education is an excellent way to do that.”
(DowFriends editor’s note: Cal’s current project is Eastlawn Elementary school, where many young students are catching the science bug as Cal brings the world of science to life.) Photo Credit: Darren Whitley/Northwest Missouri State University for the use of the photos.