District News: 2011-2012
Adventures of a Fulbright Scholar
By Beth Jorgenson, Creek Valley 1st Grade Teacher
Getting Started
My journey as a Fulbright scholar to Greece and Turkey began long before my departing flight to New York City this past June. The prestigious Fulbright program has been on my radar for several years as the unique combination of professional development and while at the same time, seeing and learning first hand the far away lands that I eagerly teach my students. Travelling while learning, learning while travelling. I completed the long application and applied to the program in September 2010 and hoped for the Greece and Turkey trip.
In March 2011, I was honored be selected along with the 16 other elementary teachers from across the country stretching from coast to coast. Ironically another teacher from Minneapolis was on this trip and we happen to live blocks away from each other.
Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar 2011
New York City
We began our travels with a pre-departure orientation in NYC. While there, we attended lectures at Columbia University given by professors specializing in Modern Greek Literature & Culture, Ottoman History, and International and Public Affairs. The professors gave us a brief overview of both countries long and ancient histories. Their personal perspectives allowed us to imagine what our journey might look and feel like. The orientation weekend was a terrific time to connect with our travel companions and gear up for what was ahead of us. Looking back, I should have taken advantage of our “easy” schedule as it drastically changed as soon as we landed in Europe.
Greece
During our 2 week stay in visited areas ranging from Athens to Peloponnese and Delphi as well as exploring the city of Thessaloniki in the North and the famous archeological sites of Pella and Vergina. We met the American Consul General, visited private and public schools, two universities, and took a ferry for a weekend stay on Aegina Island. It was clear to me after visiting both types of schools, how fortunate I am to teach in Edina and furthermore how lucky our students are to be in Edina Public Schools.
Similar to the United States, Greek schools are required to meet specific requirements, but the (major, huge, large) difference is that Greek’s Ministry of Education allows very limited teacher imagination and creativity; all materials are given by the government and are the only ones allowed to be used. I appreciate the flexibility I have with my student’s to use a variety of district approved materials to teach the best way I can.
Turkey
Our three week stay in Turkey comprised of two phases. The first phase took place in and around the capital, Ankara. We attended lectures with in-depth background information on the history, politics, religion, and cultural life of Turkey. The second phase involved a tour of the most important places around the southern and western parts of Turkey including visits to many ancient and historical sights and cultural heritage centers: Cappadocia, Konya, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Miletus, Didyma, Troy and Gallipoli. We concluded with a one week stay in Istanbul.
Highlights included a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, a two continent ferry ride on the Bosphorus Sea, visits to the Spice Market, and a lunch run-in with Senators John McCain, Lindsay Graham, and Joseph Liebermann. Due to the timing of our visit, we weren’t able to visit any elementary schools, but instead were visited by two elementary teachers. Similar to Greece, there is little flexibility in how teachers teach the material. However, a similarity that I found with all three countries, Greece, Turkey, and the United States is the feeling that problems amongst teachers regarding student achievement and meeting the needs of all is a universal problem. The solutions to these problems are local. Every teacher that we engaged with had the same concerns that American teachers do — how do we meet the needs of all students?
Returning Home
This was truly a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience. I grew immensely as an educator by interacting and talking with teachers from around the world. I grew as a human being by immersing myself in cultures that were different than mine and opening my mind to the beauty and uniqueness of them. My students will get a unique experience as they get to “travel” with me to these two beautiful places and I get to show and teach them all I learned. But what I want them to gain from it is that people are people wherever they are around the world. A requirement that I must fulfill is to complete a curriculum project based on the travels that we had. I teamed with two colleagues on my trip, one a first grade teacher from Washington and another Kindergarten teacher from the San Francisco area. We began develop a project titled “Are people across the ocean the same or different than me?” When finished, I will share it with my colleagues and use it in my own classroom.
The 2012 Fulbright trips are set. They are Mexico and Colombia. Words don’t seem to be enough to express how worth it it is to take the time to apply. Applications will be due the end of September, so it’s a busy time to focus attention on anything other than school, but it’s worth it! Click here for more information.