Science Fair
For years Dallastown has had a claim to fame, and that is the well-known Science Fair. Not only does the Science Fair promote academics but it also helps students with intellectual development. The fair has a long line of excellence as demonstrated by many students having gone on to the International Science Fair. Furthermore, because the Fair has brought out the enthusiasm of the students, it has been around for a long time.
"The Science Fair began", as Mr. Charles Landis responded, "In 1960 when I spoke to Charles Rutkey from William Penn. He said to me, Charles, you should do a science fair at Dallastown. I thought that was a good idea so I wrote all the rules and then I presented it to the science department. They agreed and from then on I was the chief officer, organizer and coordinator of the whole fair."
The coordinator is no longer Mr. Landis; it was Nat Harmon and now Mr. Richard Cleary," responding to the question what makes the history of the science fair so successful. "And the outstanding teachers, motivated students, supportive parents, and a helpful administration." When Mr. Robert Moreland was asked about the history of the fair and why it was so successful he replied, "The tradition of winners. There were winners in the beginning and the students now want to show that they can compare to past students. It's the 38-39 years of previous projects that motivates them."
Accompanying these things was the information that Mr. Landis said about the fair, "In the beginning of the years the projects were very simple. The reports have changed mainly in how sophisticated they have become." Furthermore he continued, "There is not one extra special project that sticks out in my mind, there were so many excellent ones it is hard to just pick one."
When Mr. Moreland was asked what some of his favorite projects were he informed me, "The quality and quantity have changed over the years and projects have become very sophisticated." Next he told me, "There are numerous projects and many have gone on to the International Science Fair, but two really stick out in my mind. The first was when a student fed alcohol to spiders and then saw the affect of the beer when the spiders made their webs. Also someone fed pesticides to bees then traced the pesticide through the food and into the bees honey, but there are many more."
When Mr. Cleary was questioned about his favorite report he didn't have answer. "There are so many good reports, there's just not one. I can not really answer that, there's a whole bunch." Next he responded to my other question, are certain grades are required to enter in the science fair? "That's not quite right," he said, "Some teachers offer incentives to their students. In some grades you are required to do a project but you don't have to enter it into the fair. It's just like any extra curricular activity, like football, band, or any other club."
The Science Fair has changed, but not much. The pride and honor are still involved when Dallastown students work on their projects. Under the leadership of Mr. Landis, Mr. Moreland, Mr. Cleary and Mr. Harmon our fair has flourished. Our fair is known nationally because of the great reports our school produces. Sure there are unpopular topics and some years are better than others, like all my interviewees told me, but Dallastown can surely say that they are proud of their science program. As Mr. Cleary says, "If you combine motivated students with a outstanding staff you get a great Science Fair."
