Education Week offers more and less

PROVO — Nine years ago, the number of people attending Education Week classes on the BYU campus peaked at around 34,000.

Organizers decided to start broadcasting some of the most popular classes in an effort to bring the numbers down.

This year, as the 84th Campus Education Week approaches, Director R. Neil Carlile expects 22,000 to attend, and that's more comfortable, he said.

"I think it's a better quality experience (with fewer people)," Carlile said.

That makes for shorter lines and less crowding in the classrooms.

It's also an experience that offers variety — 1,126 classes taught by 237 instructors, 59 of which are new.

"We feel like the backbone of Education Week is just the variety. We have great faculty and a great diversity," Carlile said.

There are 80 youth classes offered, 37 single parenting classes and 57 marriage classes, along with classes that include lectures on history, home management, communication, law, finance, education, exercise, the arts, psychology, parenting, genealogy, science and self-improvement.

Included this year is a rape avoidance class that Carlile said was well attended last year.

"We had that last year and are offering it again this year because we feel like that's important information," he said.

There are more musical performances being offered, including the Saltaires Show Chorus, the Mountain Jubilee Chorus, Stephen Kapp Perry, Marvin Goldstein, Jessie Clark Funk, Michael Dowdle, Dave Tinney, Sam Payne, Todd McCabe and April Moriarty, Rebecca Lopez and the vocal group One Clear Voice plus dramatic performances of "Fiddler on the Roof" from the SCERA Shell.

Tickets to the performances are sold in advance. Performances are Tuesday through Friday evenings.

Carlile said Education Week is later than usual this year due to the university's schedule, so there may be fewer youths attending classes.

He said there should be plenty of parking, although he recommends carpooling, using UTA buses and the free shuttles that run from the lots at LaVell Edwards Stadium and the Marriott Center Tuesday through Friday.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks Tuesday at the opening devotional in the Marriott Center at 11:10 a.m.

On Monday there are 19 block class presentations and 12 single-lecture classes that will be taped and broadcast.

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If you go . . .

What: 2006 Campus Education Week

Where: Brigham Young University, Provo

When: Aug. 21-25

Cost: $54/$42 for full program — scholarships available for single parents

Phone: 422-8925

Web: educationweek.byu.edu

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E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com