On December 10th, Oakmont students studying American history and literature took a field trip into Boston. While most Oakmont students were warm in their classrooms, this group bundled up and fought the frigid cold. In addition, the students definitely did not miss out on their Fitness class for the Advanced Placement United States History teacher, Kevin Hart, wasted no time in taking the students through Boston.
This semester, the students in Michelle Fensilver’s Honors English class and Dr. Hart’s Advanced Placement U.S. History class have been laboring over books, exploring the great role Boston has played in our Nation’s unique journey towards freedom and democracy. Accompanied by Mrs. Bacon’s ELL students, this group of teenagers was able to experience the history they had been researching their very first days of school. Kyle Billings, a student and participant, summed up the trip “It was an experience to live what we learned.”
Jean-Luc Bergeron, Ben Wessels and I, volunteered to prepare the tour and guide our classmates through the history in Boston. I had the pleasure of kicking off the field trip by explaining the history behind the Old Corner Bookstore and Old South Meeting House.
Here, at the Old South Meeting House, the students gathered much like the colonists did when they organized the Boston Tea Party. Later, Jean-Luc Bergeron talked about the Boston Latin School, where some of our founding fathers, such as, Benjamin Franklin, went to school. We also visited King’s Chapel Church burying ground. Within the shadows of the Old Statehouse, Ben Wessels showed the students the exact spot, marked by a circle of bricks implanted into the ground, where the Boston Massacre took place. “Seeing the site of the Boston Massacre was eye opening because the site is one of the most important events in our history and still a part of modern Boston.” another student, Emily Estelle, remarked.
The journey through the Freedom Trail continued as I told my friends the story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride beside the Paul Revere statue at the Old North Church. Nick Charron commented on the story, saying “It was almost as if my feet were in the stirrups of Paul Revere’s steed that fateful night in New England.” After Jean-Luc educated the students on the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, the Molasses flood, and the scandalous Brink’s Robbery, the students enjoyed wonderful selections of food at the Quincy Market.
After lunch, the students were brought to the resting places of Sam Adams, Paul Revere and the victims of the Boston Massacre, at the Old Granary Burying ground. This occurrence gave students a touch of life from our founding fathers. However, the students were surprised, when Dr. Hart turned the group of students into a choir. Much to their chagrin, the students sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” on the steps of the Park Street Church, where the song was first sung on July 4, 1831, by a group of students from Boston. Ben Wessels ended the student-tours with a talk about of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Statue. He told us of the bravery of the black regiment. Not only did they fight in the Civil War, but they overcome may other obstacles in the American pursuit of freedom.
We crossed the street to the Massachusetts State House and were given a professional tour of the building. Here, the students observed selected flags from the Massachusetts State House Flag collection, the architecture of different additions to the State House, and most importantly, the two chambers where Massachusetts Senators and Representatives debate, vote on, and pass legislation. The most lasting memory was when Senator Steve Brewer met the students. “Senator Brewer warmly welcomed us into the State House and was willing to share his endless knowledge about American history and politics.” Sarah Reynolds stated.
Our last stop was at the Smith School, the site of one of the first schools that educated African Americans. By this time, students were exhausted from following the energized Dr. Hart, sprinting up and down the hills and winding streets of Boston. They boarded the bus and took off west to Ashburnham just as the sun set.
All and all, the field trip was truly a whirlwind of American history. Sarah Lupinski summed up the trip just right by saying “Going through Boston made me realize just how diverse a city can be in both history and culture.” The experience certainly enlightened the students to appreciate our heritage. In addition, it forced some to start exercising. As the students left Boston, they spoke of about how interesting it was to see the places which Dr. Hart and Mrs. Feinsilver teach about. Most certainly, the trip was a dash, but it was a dash through history and more importantly, a dash into America’s heart.