Featured Scholar:
Jamie Childs
2000 - 2001 University Scholar
Mentor: Chuck Peek
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
After spending most of her life in school, senior sociology major Jamie Childs is not about to stop learning. After receiving her undergraduate degree in May 2001, Jamie plans to attend graduate school to earn her master®s degree and PhD. Her ultimate goal is to work in school administration and improve educational policies. Currently she is combining her sociology major and education minor to do research on Down syndrome children and their parent®s levels of satisfaction with their child®s education.
When Jamie first started at UF, she did not intend to become sociology major. When she took Dr. Chuck Peek®s methods of social research class, things changed. "I actually went to his office hours a lot because I wanted to make sure I understood everything we talked about in class," explains Jamie. "By the end of the semester I had really improved my research skills, and Dr. Peek asked me to be an intern for his class."
Jamie developed the idea for her research project with the help of her mentor, Dr. Peek. His daughter has Down syndrome, and he discussed with Jamie how some parents of Down syndrome children are frustrated with their child®s education and others are pleased. In 1975 legislation was passed that mandated better special education programs and guaranteed special education students would have access to free and appropriate public education.
Jamie points out that since the passage of this legislation, there has been no empirical research to gauge parental satisfaction with specialized educational. "Parents know their kids better than anyone else, so it makes sense to ask them what they expect out of their child®s education. She has finished the qualitative portion of her project and is working on the quantitative section.
Jamie credits her own parents with teaching her the value of education. "I respect my parents more than anyone. They are my number one supporters." Jamie also says her parent®s involvement in her school life helped her live up to her fullest potential. "When I was younger, I was taking regular classes because that is what I was put in due to my standardized tests scores. But my parents encouraged me to work hard and realized I could be taking more difficult classes." In high school, Jamie®s teachers recognized she could handle honors and advance placement or college level classes. She excelled in them with no problems. Jamie will graduate with highest honors from UF in May.
In her spare time, Jamie is an avid swimmer. She trains with the Gator Swim Club and also runs competitively in races. Since her freshman year at UF, Jamie has participated in the annual Dance Marathon on campus, a fundraiser for the Children®s Miracle Network. "It®s a lot of fun and a lot of work to be on your feet for 32 hours straight, but it®s worth it since all the money we raise goes to the kids." She also is a member of Phi Sigma, Pi Ò an honor and service organization on campus.
Working with her mentor has been a rewarding experience for Jamie, and the feeling is mutual. Dr. Peek says the relationship that he and Jamie have developed is a good example of what the USP has set out to accomplish. "Through our work together, Jamie has matured considerably in her ability to conceptualize and execute and research project," says Peek. "Working with Jamie has also helped to expand my areas of interest, and has suggested new applications of theories and modes of inquiry that otherwise might not have occurred to me."
Once she finishes her degrees Jamie would like to work as
a teacher in the educational system first and then move into administration.
"I need the first hand experience so that I can relate to teachers and
students. I would like to eventually write class curriculums and
work to raise teachers' standards. I simply want to make a difference
in the lives of
children."
Photo by Allyson Beutke
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