School Project Raises Awareness

Fourteen-year-old Megan of Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, does not know anyone who has suffered symptoms of a metabolic disorder. Megan devotes her time to the things in life that are important right now: friends, family, school, sports, and baby-sitting.

Toddlers are one of Megan’s favorite age groups to baby-sit. Megan is well aware that one particular toddler she baby-sits might likely have died suddenly at age two if not for the $25, preventive, general-population newborn screen that detected a silent time bomb waiting to go off years later. Megan cannot even tell you how she might feel if the little boy who plays outside, under her care had died unnecessarily from lack of a $25 test. Megan knows that because of early detection, the little boy’s parents were able to become educated and to take steps to preserve his life.

Megan thought of newborn screening when every student in her 300-plus-member 8^th grade class was assigned a 20^th Century research project. Under the 20^th Century project, students were required to compile information throughout the school year on an issue that began in the 20^th century: a historic event, famous person, scientific finding, etc.

Then, she had to present her findings on May 31, 2001, in a format open to the public. Alongside hundreds of middle school classmates, Megan set up a table within a mile-long trail throughout the middle school in a fashion not unlike that of a trade show. Megan’s table included a brightly colored poster, “Newborn Screening: It Saves Lives,”. She displayed pictures of children, living and deceased, who are or were affected by the presence or absence of newborn screening. There were several binders of information, fact sheets, handouts, and even baby dolls. The 20^th Century project was an opportunity for students to become knowledgeable and to speak confidently with members of the public, who were asking all kinds of questions.

It required a lot of work all yearlong, from 8^th graders. Megan spoke well, answering questions with confidence, grace and knowledge. Clearly, she had done lots of homework. Despite her teacher’s initial hesitation (Many people today are still unfamiliar with information relating to newborn screening), Megan was able to gather all sorts of information thanks to several sources, including people from health departments across the country.

Says Megan, “Everybody, whether they are a parent or not, should know about the effects that can happen if these babies are not tested.”

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