One science teacher's shocking realization

Before becoming a science teacher, Eric Sonnentag had an unusual opportunity to practice science on the Mississippi River. As a bonafide fisheries biologist with the U.S. Department of Natural Resources he and his team would stun fish through electroshock as they conducted surveys on the river along the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa borders.

 

"There were four of us, and we would go out for a day or two and collect samples along stretches of shoreline," Sonnentag explained.

The crew would lower a contraption that looked a bit like two big hula-hoops into the water. Attached metal tines would carry a small electric current from a generator on the boat under water.

"We would run it along the shoreline and it would force fish onto the shore. It would stun them enough that we could net them and throw them in the live well tank on the boat," Sonnentag said. "At the end of the run, we would measure them and do a species count. In some cases we collected fin samples for federal surveys."

While the charge was strong enough to knock out the fish, it did not cause permanent harm. After collecting data, the team would return the fish to the river and they would go about their normal business again.

Through this unusual job, Sonnentag learned a very important lesson: much of what you need to know for a job is not taught in the classroom. Read more  

This school year, we are working to provide parents "The Big Picture" regarding the DCSD's Strategic Plan. This month's "Boldly Going" series is exploring what makes curriculum different in the Douglas County School District. 

Next Week: How our goal of preparing students for the college or career pathway of their choice results in a curriculum focused on  higher-forms of thinking and rigor.