What has remained a constant on the trip is our visit to the site of the September 11 attacks. Students from Pilgrim have seen the location go from recovery, to clean up, to construction. This year our group toured the Museum for the first time and had some very powerful experiences at certain parts of the exhibit.
Following the tour we ended up riding the Staten Island Ferry before going to Time Square. As everyone began posting pictures and sharing their experiences on various social medias, it was once again made very clear how important getting out of the classroom can be. Learning happens in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. Traditional classroom instruction is important and has a place in our educational system, however what is often lost in our devotion to textbooks and standardized tests is how important applied learning is... getting out of the classroom and experiencing the world.
This is the central philosophy and mission of Pilgrim Travel Club... getting out of the classroom and simply taking part in the world. The world is our greatest classroom.... a "Classroom Without Walls."
Here is what our group learned this weekend:
1. Out of tragedy can come strength and unity
2. Evil exists... as does goodness and love.
3. Some things in NYC really are free
4. There is just something about NYC Pizza
5. You can get 108 people on the same subway train!
6. You need to pay Mickey and Spiderman
7. Falafel = Magic
8. Pigeons are everywhere... and they poop
9. Following directions is more important in big cities
10. Fine line between fun and fear
11. Your blood is your blood
12. Not all family is blood
Some of these will make sense to you and some won't... but you all learned something... share what you learned.
(to see some great NYC pics check out Twitter #noWallsNYC