On the final day of the marking period at the Linden High School Academy of Science, dental-assistant students are struggling to prove their skill with fussy equipment designed to keep teeth dry during surgery. Fortunately, Pam's patient is uncommonly compliant and, well, patient. The isolation procedure is one of dozens of tasks that 13 students in the class must master as part of a three-year training program for dental assistants and hygienists.
Some students take just one course at the academy, while others enroll in several.
In a district where many classrooms are crowded and voters routinely reject budget proposals and capital plans, the academy has enjoyed support from the community, Tomazic says. The newest school building in the district, the academy facility boasts large classrooms featuring areas for traditional lectures and separate areas for hands-on work. None of the academy's classes exceeds 17 students, a policy that Tomazic says enables instructors to supervise students operating potentially dangerous equipment. In a television and video studio, a dozen future film editors, directors and producers put finishing touches on projects that must be handed in today. Sophomore Rory Jones and junior Amir Kinsler peer intently at footage of a student falling off an overstuffed armchair and then suddenly vanishing, thanks to a trick shot.