LAYTON, Utah — The medical forensics class at Northridge High School has a twist ending. While the students solve mysteries, they realize in the end they’ve learned chemistry, physics and biology.
Some of them even finish the year with a high paying job at a firm willing to pay for their college education, according to teacher Stacey Howell.
It’s an unusual science class where the term final sends students into a big common room in teams to set up the scene of a murder. Each team scattering evidence sufficient to solve the crime if the investigators do their job.
After setting up their crime scenes, the teams become the investigators, tackling a mystery set up by another group of students.
“In my regular chemistry class kids come in and say, ‘I'm never going to use this in my life. What am I doing?’” Howell said.
But in medical forensics, they realize that science can lead to a job that’s rewarding, and even fun.
“This isn't dull science. This is cool science. They’re able to process and do stuff, and you've got them for life,” Howell said.
