[wiredfool]

Critical mass would be one way to put it. There was also a willingness to let the kids do what they were interested in and provide support for it.

For example, in 10th grade, 4 of us got together and decided we wanted to make a new high temp superconductor. (87-88, around the time that the first LN2 one was out there). With the support of a couple of the labs, we researched it, ordered chemicals, made a pill press, mixed it, pressed it, baked it in a o2 rich environment, and then tested with ln2. I think at the time it was the first high school to make one.

None of that was something that was part of the classroom flow, it it was absolutely something that was supported.