"Why should society feel responsible only for the education of children,
not for the education of all adults of every age?" – Erich Fromm
Our good friend Elizabeth Randolph Leslie knew the importance of continued education throughout life. A teacher for 30 years, “Tibbie” as she was fondly known, traveled the world extensively during her summer breaks. When Ms. Leslie died in 1995, she established the Tibbie Leslie Fund through her will to provide teachers in her home of Licking County funds to support their travel experiences. This past summer, Tibbie’s lasting gift helped six Licking County educators experience a new world to bring back to their students.
Melinda Buchholz received funds for travel to London, England. An art teacher at Newark High School, Mrs. Buchholz exclaimed, “There is nothing like seeing the original artwork in person!” Through her own photographs of her trip, she created a body of work that she will share with students to point out strategies that she used to create dynamic images. Her classes will even help her develop the film! Mrs. Buchholz shared, “I took pictures of what surprised me, caught my eye, and made me think. I often took pictures of things so my students would be able to make comparisons to life here in Licking County.”
Janessa Castle traveled to Germany, Poland, and Amsterdam to broaden her knowledge in the field of English. Ms. Castle was able to experience the places used as a setting for many of the stories and books they read in her English classes at Lakewood High School. Her travel experience left her feeling more culturally aware, and Ms. Castle hopes to impart that same growth to her students’ worldview. She plans to integrate her trip into the classroom in a number of ways, including sharing a journal she kept through her journey, written with the raw emotion she experienced visiting places such as the Anne Frank House and Auschwitz. Ms. Castle has always had an interest in the Holocaust but stated, “I never fully grasped the vastness and the entirety of the inhumanity until I experienced it first-hand. I hope my experience will help students relate to it better.”
Emily Cline, an elementary art teacher within Newark City Schools, spent time in Mexico on an inspiring journey full of Mexican culture, art and history. Ms. Cline’s experience exposed her to countless different art forms, many of which she has researched further in order to explore them with her students through thoughtful, creative lessons. Ms. Cline has already worked with her students to create a school-wide mural of painted squares constructed into a Mayan-like pyramid in each of her schools.
Dana Decker received a grant to travel to Paris, Venice, and Vienna. Reflecting upon how her trip broadened her experience, Ms. Decker stated, “I think the thing that really struck me as I traveled in some very diverse locations in Europe was the feeling of being a foreigner and how I was treated as a foreigner…even though I did not speak the languages, people were kind and respectful to me, always trying to be helpful and compassionate. I appreciated it so much and would love to return the favor to others who need it from me.” Ms. Decker looks forward to integrating her experience into her Modern World History courses at Granville High School.
Jace Maybury, a history teacher at Lakewood High School, spent a part of his summer exploring the history of England and France. Mr. Maybury gained an immeasurable amount of firsthand knowledge on his trip, as every corner seemed to be another history lesson! Mr. Maybury concluded, “I feel the most important thing I was able to learn and bring back to my students is conversations I was able to have with the various people along my journey…I feel like this trip has given me a refreshed outlook on what the human race can accomplish. I hope to pass on to my students examples of how action, not complaints, can accomplish anything and, if at all possible, to get out and explore other cultures, listen to different opinions and LEARN!!!!!”
Alexandra Schneider spent time this summer traveling to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to broaden her knowledge as a science teacher at Newark High School. Mrs. Schneider expanded her firsthand experience with different biomes and encountered a vast array of biodiversity. She intends to integrate her personal anecdotes and photos in class to grab students’ attention and further bring to life the content. Mrs. Schneider also looks forward to sharing her experience this summer with her students in a non-science way by encouraging them to get out and see the world!
We hope that you are inspired by life-long learners like Tibbie Leslie and these fine educators!
Pictured Clockwise from Top Left: Mrs. Schneider amid biodiversity; Mr. Maybury photographed an illuminated National Assembly in Paris; Pyramid art created by Ms. Cline’s students; Photo from Ms. Castle’s visit to Auschwitz; Photo of a plaza in London taken by Mrs. Buchholz.
