PUBLICATION:
Calgary Herald
DATE:
2004.04.06
EDITION:
Final
SECTION:
Opinion
PAGE:
A18
SOURCE:
Calgary Herald
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Revolvers,
the fourth R
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Advocates
of basic education are no doubt appalled that Leandra Lepko, a Lethbridge high
school student, is earning five credits toward her high school diploma by
learning how to shoot a handgun. Considering that about 25 per cent of all Grade
9 students failed Alberta's standardized math test last year, one might wonder
why any student should earn credits for learning to shoot a pistol. And with
guns the third leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 24, according
to the Canadian Journal of Public Health, the thought of Lepko firing off rounds
from her 9-mm Sig Sauer P-220 in a sanctioned class seems a bit out of place.
But
self-designing such a course under a special program takes creativity and
initiative -- so much so that most students don't even bother. The special
project option is available to all Alberta high school students, yet only 10 of
800 students in Lepko's school annually submit proposals. To earn her credits,
Lepko, a Grade 11 at Catholic Central High who comes from a family of avid
shooters, must devote 125 hours to her gun study.
We're
all in favour of strengthening the "three R's" -- reading, 'riting and
'rithmetic -- but any program that instils dedication, perseverance and
creativity, whether it be learning the sitar or the responsible handling of a
gun for competitive shooting, gets a gold star in our books -- especially when
students must take it upon themselves to design and create a program that must
pass the approval of a professional educator.
PUBLICATION:
Calgary Herald
DATE:
2004.04.03
EDITION:
Early
SECTION:
News
PAGE: A1 / FRONT
BYLINE:
Maria Canton
SOURCE:
Calgary Herald
ILLUSTRATION:
Colour Photo: Marianne
Helm, Calgary Herald / Leandra Lepko,17, holds her empty handgun in the Calgary
Herald studio on Friday. Lepko is doing a school project involving studying
handguns and marksmanship.
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Principal
backs 'unusual' project: Should a student earn marks for learning to shoot a
handgun?
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Leandra
Lepko is shooting for high marks. The 17-year-old Lethbridge student is working
on a self-designed school project that has her studying handguns and ammunition
while perfecting the subtleties of becoming a crack shot.
And
she's earning five credits toward her high school diploma for the initiative
that includes firing off rounds from her 9-mm Sig Sauer P-220 handgun once a
week after sanctioned classes end.
Lepko,
who is in Grade 11 at Catholic Central High and needed to make up five credits,
pitched the idea of a shooting class after learning about the special projects
program offered by Alberta Learning. "A
lot of my friends think it's really cool," said Lepko, who is in Edmonton
this weekend for a shooting match, a course requirement for her to complete her
project. "Shooting takes a lot of discipline and skill, and safety is very
important. You can never do anything that might endanger anyone else,"
Lepko said.
A
member of the Chinook Country Shooters, Lepko travels to nearby Taber every
Thursday for an evening of shooting and lessons with her instructor, who
evaluates and grades her progress. To earn the five high school credits, she has
to dedicate 125 hours this semester to fine-tuning her skills, learning gun
safety, keeping a journal and participating in three competitions.
The
special project option is available to Alberta high school students, giving them
the freedom to pursue a course of study not offered through the regular
curriculum. Lepko's principal, Cal O'Brien, evaluates and approves about 10
project proposals a year, despite a student body of about 800. "It isn't
enormously popular because putting the project together involves a lot of
work," said O'Brien. "But, it gives students ownership over what
they're learning . . ."
As
for Lepko's shooting project, O'Brien was surprised when it was first pitched,
but after some research, he determined it met all of the criteria. "It
certainly is one of the more unusual project ideas that's crossed my desk. She
was interested in taking law enforcement in the future."
The
Canadian Journal of Public Health, however, has reported that guns are the third
leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 24, following motor vehicle
accidents and suicide by other means. But when asked what the public's
perception of a pistol-packing student might be -- given the Taber shooting in
1999 and higher-profile school shootings in the U.S. -- O'Brien said he isn't
concerned. "I'm very
comfortable with the project. She's interested in learning how to properly use
and care for a gun -- it's far less dangerous in a controlled environment."
Lepko's
mom and stepdad, Joanne and John Schoorl, are both avid shooters and say they're
amazed at the level of interest their daughter's project have prompted.
"We have had so many parents come up to us wanting to know how their
kids can get credits for shooting," said John.
"If we can teach young people how to handle firearms responsibly
and safely, it will only prevent accidents in the future."