Winter term is starting soon at the Anacortes Senior College.

The college, which offers classes in fall, winter and spring terms to adults 50 years and older, works to provide enjoyable learning experiences and social networking. Cost is $25 to join the college and $25 for each course.

It is offering four classes this term that meet 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 13-Feb. 17.

• The Dances of Political Economy with Michael Newbrough covers policy-making games and how they affect our market economy. Elements of the class include structural basics of the U.S. government, politics and policy, economic systems, relative virtues and weaknesses of a free-market economy and the different roles of government in our economy.

• The Bomb with Eugene George Kovach will briefly trace the development of nuclear weapons from scientific research to the technological effort that forever changed the world in which we live.

The unique capabilities and effects of these weapons have stimulated new kinds of relations between nations to control their proliferation. The dichotomy of nuclear energy — promising efficient and peaceful power generation while at the same time threatening cataclysmic destruction — compounds the difficulty of success. The class considers early attempts (and failures) to control this power and assesses the many mechanisms now to cope with this ever-increasing danger.  

• Conversational Spanish II with Ruth Vitovec addresses topics of daily communication at the novice to intermediate level. Prerequisite: knowledge of basic conversational Spanish or previous participation in Part I.

• The American Privateers in the War of 1812 with Joseph Vitovec explores the War of 1812 between the United States and England as fought on the high seas by the American privateers. It also describes Dartmoor Prison where many American sailors were imprisoned.

For more information visit http://www.seniorcollege.info.

Seeking instructors
Senior College organizers are looking for more instructors interested in teaching classes for the six-week college terms.

The college has more than a dozen teachers with a variety of backgrounds — some have degrees or credentials, others have diverse life experience and some have specialized knowledge and passion, said instructor Michael Newbrough.

Teachers don’t need to be over 50, he said. They just need to be willing to share their knowledge in small groups over 12 hours of instruction time.

College organizers polled students recently about classes they’d be interested in. Answers were American literature, forest ecology, genealogy, comparative religions, music/art appreciation, gardening and history of Pacific Northwest.

But the topics are endless, Newbrough said, including history, poetry, boating skills and area geology and wildlife.

Anyone interested in teaching a class can call Newbrough at 293-7295.