Best day ever!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Today we had our first full day in West Virginia! We started the day at the flea market where there were all types of things from things from yard sale items such as used clothes to faux purses, to weapons. Of course, we had to try some out, as we drew swords and struck some poses. After a few hours, we browsed through all the vendors and bought some amazing stuff from jewelry to hand knit hats to Coach Purses. Everyone was friendly and helpful, letting us try their stuff, and demonstrating the proper ways to hold the swords.

Then we went to the Harper’s Ferry, where we explored the town. We walked up and down the main street, and saw ruins of John the Episcopal Church, and were able to go in and see the inside of it. We also climbed to Jefferson’s Rock where we were able to see where the Potomac and Shenandoah River met together. Jefferson described this place as a “scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” It was definitely that, as we could see the humongous rocks hanging over the place where the rivers collided. After the long climb, we then saw the place where John Brown fought the Union soldiers as he tried to rebel against having slaves. The historical sites were everywhere, as the firehouse that was John Brown’s last stand was next the famous C&O railroad that still runs today. We also saw an obelisk that stood where the firehouse once stood.

After exploring all the historical landmarks that Harper’s Ferry offered, we decided to call it day. We came back, had a late lunch, and rested for the rest of the day. Later tonight, we had the first ever reflection of what we were expecting from this trip and from each other. Many of us seem to be coming from different backgrounds other than education. However, we came as we were all interested in rural education, and would like to get a better grasp of what is going on, As everyone seems to be seriously interested in this topic, I’m looking forward to this week, and what we are going to experience together. We then tried to start a fire in the fireplace, failed and called it quits for the night. I’m excited for this week.

- Donna

Tuesday, March 22

TODAY WAS GREAT!!!!
We were able to explore many of the schools in Jefferson County, which was both exciting and beneficial.
Four of the group members visited at Page Jackson Elementary School (Serves PreK- 2nd Grade). This group helped in Kindergarten, first grade, and specials (gym, art, music, library). We were impressd by the fitness mintute that the kindergarterners did at the beginning of the school day with the gym teacher. Other members of our group were able to travel to other schools in the surrounding area; including Charles Town Middle (one participant), and Wright Deeny Elementary (two participants), the Opportunity Learning Center (two participants), and the GED Adult Learning Center (one participant). In Charles Town Middle, we worked with the Tech Coordinator, and we actually were able to remove 30 harddrives of brand new laptops for the middle school. In the process of programming the machines, we learned a plethora of facts about the Jefferson County Public School system. We had a great time learning all about the media department (used for morning annoucenemts) run exclusively by aspiring middle school news anchors. Next, we traveled across the street to the Opportunity Learning Center (which was GREAT!). Unlike the previous in-school experiences, this was quite different. The setting was quite different than the other schools we attended, in that the students were more in need of an alternative learning setting, for various reasons. After just a few minutes in the OLC, we were able to strike a common connection with the students, and ended up truly enjoying our stay here. It was fantastic to both observe and interact with students in such stratified environments, and comparing the settings during reflection was always interesting.
Additionally, a few participants traveled to Wright Deeny Elementary, where we heard the first state-specific Pledge of Allegiance (something involving "Mountaineers Are Always Free", ect!). This was super fun! :)
Finally, the GED Adult Learning Center was a very educational and enjoyable experience for all. We were able to work within the center and utilize our hazy math skills to help our fellow friends in Jefferson County. It was a great time! We also went and grabbed coffee afterwords and talked to a few of the locals about good places to eat! (ALWAYS EXCITING FOR US).

The Green Reaper

Today has been a great day so far! I spent the day volunteering at Wildwood Middle School in Jefferson County, West Virginia, mostly participating in the financial literacy program called "Get a Life" for 7th grade students. This program gave students the chance to see how to manage a budget with and without higher education, especially given the amount that is up to chance in life.

This element of chance became my job for the morning: I spent two hours in a grim reaper costume, bringing mostly bad luck to kids who soon learned to run away from me to avoid anything from car accidents to bad weather to a pet's therapy for separation anxiety to winning lottery scratch-offs. Sometimes I had to chase kids and other times I had a posse circling me as if that meant that they would not be chosen for a new fortune or misfortune. Some soon learned that leaving your life up to Chance is not generally a good ideas...

In the second hour, I gave a student a card saying that he had to pay to fix his house after a tree fell on it, which would cost him $800 since he did not have insurance. I spent the entire rest of the game chasing him like the IRS, and he never gave in. Another kid had the misfortune of getting a card from me saying that he had to pay $200 to fix his car and he was already in debt. He got down on his knees begging me not to fine him, but chance has no compassion. He never forgave me.

This game was extremely fun for the kids and for me, but was especially great because it was so practical and really gave the students a chance to learn how life works. Many students started off trying to buy as much and as fancy stuff as possible but learned after getting a chance at a new life that college education and frugality are much better for making life a little easier financially.

For the rest of the day, the 3 other ASB participants and I observed two sixth grade classes and then played one last round of "Get a Life." The first class was a reading class and was pretty boring, although the teacher had warned us that this was her 5th time teaching the same lesson that day. The next class was a math class. That teacher was very high-energy and well respected among her students. She had this policy that her class was like a one-woman show or a concert, and used that analogy to explain why students should not interrupt class. She was really great! For the final hour of "Get a Life," our staff advisor, Conrad, dressed up in the reaper costume while I took his place making utilities sales. We really had an amazing time today! Maryland public schools should learn from this and start similar financial literacy programs!