A group of Bluffton University education students and professors Paul Weaver and Trevor Scott traveled to Chicago Nov. 2, for a three and a half-day trip for the Urban Education Seminar.
While in Chicago, the group visited the Museum of Mexican Art, Kids Off the Block and the Neo Futurist Theater.
The Neo Futurist Theater was an interesting stop for the group, Weaver said. The theater featured a group called Barrel of Monkeys that would perform skits of short essays written by students. Weaver said the production was fun and demonstrated how the Barrel of Monkeys group works with school children to help them think about their lives in a different perspective and express themselves.
The students also visited Irma C. Ruiz Elementary School and Ray Elementary School.
“I think it was very interesting going into Chicago schools right after they got off of strike because the strike was about getting better education for the students and better circumstances for everyone involved in the Chicago Public School system,” said junior Makenzie Speakman. “It was interesting to go and talk to the teachers about the strike and what they believed should have happened and their agreement level with everything.”
The Urban Education Seminar is a paired requirement with the social and philosophical issues in education class that is offered for students entering the education field. The issues in education class, taught by professor Paul Weaver, explores connections between schools and societies. For some students who come from a rural school background, the Chicago trip fits nicely with bringing to life the idea of connections within schools and society.
“The diversity in rural and urban schools has increased since back then and this experience shows students how they may need to adjust to teach in any school,” said Weaver. “The main purpose of the trip is for Bluffton students majoring in education to spend time in the classrooms in Chicago and experience schools which are different from any schools they have experienced before and to help broaden their knowledge.”
Weaver is a professor of education and Spanish and director of Global Education on Bluffton’s campus. Weaver has taught Social and Philosophical Issues in Education 25 of the 28 semesters it has been offered. The Urban Education Seminar has only been offered the past four years.
Scott, assistant professor of speech-language pathology and audiology was asked to accompany the group and eagerly accepted the offer.
“I had been to Chicago before for an afternoon, but this was my first significant trip,” Scott said. “I thought it would be a new experience and a change of pace.”
Scott enjoyed the food and being able to have more conversations with the students. He believes the Chicago seminar gives students an opportunity to see and talk firsthand with teachers and students.
“Bluffton prides itself on being a high-quality teacher preparation program,” Weaver said. “In order to live up to those expectations, we decided that this seminar is a necessary component for our students and that every person who graduates with a Bluffton teaching license should have exposure to an urban education context to prepare for teaching wherever they end up.”
