Student Travel
JOURNEY TO THE BORDERLANDS: AN EXPLORATION OF IMMIGRATION, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURE
OVERVIEW
In February we will embark on Compass’ first expedition to the US/Mexican Border. Compass teachers Andy Winter and Elissa McLean have led a similar expeditions at the Shackleton and Watershed Schools and bring with them incredible contacts and experiences in this region. The two of them (with 2 yr old Emmy) and Bruce Chase will lead the juniors on this two-week trip. Rick’s Humanities class on Immigration will support the learning on this expedition. While planning for this trip is still in the works, we thought we’d give you a glimpse into what it will look like. We are excited by the opportunities awaiting us!
Nowhere in the world do two countries as different as the United States and Mexico exist side by side. For more than two hundred years, the lives of these two nations have overlapped and intermingled, oftentimes obscuring the border than stands between them. Today, the glaring contrast between these two countries is unique and at times startling. Among other things, it provides a sharp backdrop for an exploration of culture, history, politics, economics, and other forces that have shaped the lives of residents on both sides of the border. The abundance of rich cultures in this region provides a special opportunity for an in-depth study of the many ways in which cultures interact and evolve.
This is a short journey into the borderlands. In our two weeks on the road we will participate in a variety of experiences to glimpse the complexity of this part of the world. We will participate in human rights work with new immigrants and a vigil to remember those who did not make the journey. We will experience a “toxic tour” of Nogales, Mexico where we will visit a US factory, a dump in which families make their livelihoods, and families struggling to make ends meet in shantytowns. We will meet with Border Patrol and learn about Homeland Security and immigration. We will help prepare and serve lunch for hundreds of street children. We will learn the art of traditional paper flower making and we will make tortillas. We will explore the coast of the Sea of Cortez. We will hike in the desert. And throughout all of this, we will ask questions and reflect on our learning.
Throughout our journey we will meet with several “Visiting Educators”, experts in particular fields who will share their expertise with us. These include activists, naturalists, immigration officials, and Mexican citizens. All of the people we meet will serve as our teachers and guides. We will engage them with curiosity and concern, with eagerness to inquire, and commitment to learning. As such we will live as active learners, rather than passive observers.
A central feature of this expedition will take place in Carbó, Sonora where students will live with Mexican families for four days. This will be a unique opportunity for students to experience daily life with a Mexican family in a small town. Spanish language and cross cultural awareness and appreciation are the focus of this experience. Spanish classes will occur each day as a way to supplement the immersive learning happening in student’s homes.
The expedition will be supplemented by an extensive reader covering topics ranging from culture to NAFTA to immigration to human rights. We will engage in reading discussions on a regular basis, bridging the students’ experiences with documentation of these issues.
In addition to the content we will be exploring, much of our experience will involve learning how to travel and live well together. Student leadership and collaboration will be emphasized. Students rotate through a series of jobs including student leader of the day, cook, navigator, and video documenter. Our expectation is that by the end of this expedition students are extremely comfortable asking questions, that they look at situations from multiple perspectives, and that they return home with a heightened appreciation for the opportunities they have.