Anson high teacher pays out of pocket to keep science exciting

ANSON, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – If you remember science class in grade school, you probably remember the exciting experiments, from exploding volcanoes to creating slime. As much fun as they were, they were also educational, and at Anson High School, that is the center of their science curriculum — but it comes with a price.

Elizabeth Meyer, a science teacher at Anson High School, hosts one lab experiment per week, which she says can be a large amount of effort.

“Some people think me doing a lab every week is kind of crazy, and it’s a lot of work, but I know the kids enjoy it. They get a lot out of it. They usually retain the material better. They do better on their test, and they get more interested in their class,” Meyer said.

Shaking up fresh ice cream to exploding gummy bears, Meyer said the hands-on learning experience not only makes the classroom fun for students but also connects them to the material they are learning in class.

“I don’t like just sitting there. Even in college, I doodled or messed with something, and so having hands-on experience really helps my kids get involved. They’re engaged; they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. When somebody comes in, they like building roller coasters and catapults,” Meyer said.

With approximately 60 students and 36 weeks in a school year, 36 labs, the cost of materials can be pretty expensive, with Meyer having to come out of pocket most of the time.

“There’s one lab that would be amazing to do, but it would cost so much to do. It. We just don’t. So I try to find other things that the kids can do that show them the same thing. That’s just a little simpler model,” Meyer said. “I paid $100 at the grocery store just to do [an ice cream experiment with 10 students], so imagine doing one every week. And there are 36 weeks in a school year.”

Anson High School Principal, Gina Overby, said teachers buying their supplies is not uncommon for educators, especially those going above and beyond for their students.

“It makes me so happy to see that our teachers are willing to put our kids first, and not that we want them to go broke doing it, but at the same time, the fact that they’re willing to shows to me how much our kids mean to our teachers,” Overby said.

Even with the cost burden, Meyer said she will not stop the labs, seeing the positive impact on her students.

“I had one student, and she literally did not want to come to school. She didn’t like coming to school at all. One day, on the last day of school, she goes, ‘You’re probably the only reason I came to school.’ That made me feel pretty good because you don’t usually hear those comments from the kids,” Meyer explained.

The school is accepting donations for science labs. They can be dropped off at Anson High School.

Here is a list of some of the previous materials the class has used:

• Marbles
• Pennies
• Eggs
• Popsicle Sticks
• Mirrors
• 60 mL syringes
• Light diodes
• Bleach
• Tent Stakes
• Nylon Rope
• Ammonia
• Copper wire tape
• 3V Coin Batteries
• Glass bottles
• Soda cans
• Rubberbands
• Plastic Bags
• String
• Tape
• Cups