NC first lady visits Belville Elementary

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - North Carolina's First Lady, Kristin Cooper toured three classes at Belville Elementary School on Tuesday.

She visited two fifth grade science classes and a kindergarten class. The purpose of her visit was to tour public schools in the area whose success stories can be used back in Raleigh.

Students in Belville's science program performed 10 percent higher than the state average and 6.5 percent higher than the county average on their science end of grade tests last school year.

Cooper watched as the fifth graders conducted science labs. She also saw how the three classes use Smart Panels, interactive touchscreen boards.

According to fifth-grade science teachers, the high test scores are thanks to technology in the classroom.

"It's such a big, growing industry it's super important for the next generation coming up and we need to be able to keep up with those times and having the proper technology in our classrooms," teacher James McGregor said.

"I think if you use it as a tool in conjunction with what you're already doing, then you're going to see positive results, especially if it's something they want to do"

The school recently installed 20 Smart Panels. Belville's PTO, Parent Advisory Council, and school administration recently completed fundraising to put this new technology in over half their classrooms.

Parents raised about $62,000 in less than seven months to purchase the Smart Panels.

Cooper agreed with the teachers. She said technology is incredibly important to students' education.

"I think it's going to be important as they move on because it's gotten to be such a part of education is to have access to that and what we're seeing in some of the counties that we've visited is that's not possible," she said.

"We have a lot of children in this state who live in counties that don't have broadband. I think as they get further down the road, they're going to find disadvantages when they're competing with these kids who have it from the very start," Cooper said.

To fight that from happening, Cooper said one of her husband's goals is to get funding to help rural counties get broadband.

Teachers said, however, learning isn't all about technology.

"I believe that we need to also focus, along with technology, on just getting back to the basics in school. Science class, I'd like for students to see science as fun and not just a book and not just a course and not just a test, but inspiring students to become learners and learn about the subject area rather than just get ready for an assignment," McGregor said.

Cooper also talked about school safety on her visit.

"I find the fact that those kindergartners have a drill where they're herded into a closet. The lights are turned off. They're told to be quiet because somebody might shoot them. Just thinking of that happening on a regular basis to kids I think really alarms me as a worry and what kind of effect that may be having on them to grow up that way," she said.

"Our number one goal is that kids feel safe in school and whatever common-sense source of measures that can be put in place making it harder to get these assault type weapons I think would be a good first step," Cooper said.

Cooper also visited Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary in Columbus County following her stop at Belville.

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