I know you haven’t read enough about our 14 day excursion in Philly with the dozen plus blogs we’ve written, so I thought I would sum it all up for you.  I’ll make it easy by breaking it down by day and I’ll only hit the highlights.

 

Sunday, June 1 Met at CSU at 6 am and 3 hours later we arrived at DIA

                           Uneventful flight to Philly, where we caught the bus to U of Penn

                            Checked in to unimpressive dorm room and unpacked.  Had dinner at

                            the highly promoted Abner’s Cheesesteaks.

 

Monday, June 2^nd   Hit the ground running with a whirlwind tour of Independence Hall,

                                 Betsy Ross House, Franklin Court, Christ Church, Liberty Bell, and

                                 the surrounding area from a firecracker of a guide named Pat

                                 Stallone (no relation to Rocky).

                                Walked 100 blocks to Reading Terminal Market where we found

                                 most things closed.

                                Bought a huge Reuben from very nice gentlemen who tried to be a

                                teacher and went back to the restaurant business.  Said he had the

                                utmost respect for all teachers.

 

Tuesday, June 3^rd   Off to Valley Forge.  Had an introduction from the Park Ranger in

                                  an icebox.  Then took a bus tour around the park.  We were treated

                                  to a musket firing by a very nice looking ranger dressed up like a                

                                  soldier.  Finished the tour off with the presentation of Revolutionary

                                  artifacts. 

                                  Dinner at the New Deck Tavern built in 1933 with a rude waiter.

 

Wednesday, June 4^th Princeton was very cool, but wet.  I didn’t bring an umbrella. 

                                    Had a presentation by John Mills at the Princeton Battlefield that

                                    covered EVERY last detail while we were standing.  Toured the

                                   Clarke House.

                                    Had lunch at Conte’s pizza.  I honestly believe that food we love

                                    has a personal connection to our childhood or some special event.

                                   Toured Princeton and the surrounding area including the

                                   Bainbridge House and Einstein’s home. 

                                    Had a couple hours to do some shopping.  I didn’t waste a minute.

                                    Had dinner at The Soup Man.  That’s the same guy as the Soup

                                    Nazi from Seinfeld.  I had Lobster Bisque and it rocked.

 

Thursday, June 5^th   Arrived at the Constitution Center about 8:30 am

                                    Listened to author and professor Carol Berkin.  She was a very

                                    cool lady with similar personal truths.  Clinton supporter and

                                    feminist.  Gave Matt and Jonathan a run for their money.  I loved

                                    it.  Professors don’t have qualms about setting their underlings

                                   straight about how things are and were, but there is a whole special

                                  dance that is performed when professors debate one another.

                                   Had a guided tour through the center.

                                  Saw theatrical performance of Freedom Rising.

                                  Finished the day with Eli and a lesson we could implement in our

                                  class.

                                  Ran over to Ben Franklin’s post office so I could send all the family

                                  a post card with the official hand stamp of Franklin.

                                  Had dinner at Chilis.  How sad that I am visiting a major

                                  metropolitan city and I am forced to eat dinner at Chilis to get a

                                 somewhat acceptable meal.  The food in Philly is not what I   

                                 expected.  The one decent meal I did have cost me $50 and I didn’t

                                 even drink.

 

Friday, June 6^th        Spent the day at the Franklin Institute – literally!

                                    Introduction by Ferris Beuller’s science teacher.

                                    We were allowed to explore a little and then we had a real treat up

                                     in the board room.  We were shown and actually got to hold

                                     several of Franklin’s personal belongings. 

                                     Finished the day by exploring the rest of the institute including the

                                     Heart, electricity, a full size train and we culminated with the

                                     Pirate exhibit.  We closed down the place. 

                                     Nothing to memorable for dinner, but I did remember to call my

                                     sister-in-law and wish her a happy birthday.  I sent her a card

                                    earlier in the week. 

                     

Saturday, June 7th   Washington’s Crossing was a beautiful place.  We saw some

                                    original buildings and were treated to another dose of rudeness by

                                    our guide.  I did learn about the bar and grill. 

                                    Left for Monmouth Battlefield of which I had never heard of.  It

                                   was hot.  I mean really hot.  We took a tour of the area by bus but

                                   had to get out to see the actual sites in tick infested grass.  Not one

                                   of my favorite days.

                                   Back to The New Deck Tavern for dinner with a much better

                                   waiter.

 

Sunday, June 8^th       I have officially made it a week.  A group of us went to church

                                   service at Christ Church at 11am.  It was a nice service, but once

                                   again, it was hot.  We had a lovely lunch at the greasy spoon across

                                   the street and set out for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Arrived

                                   an hour late, but still managed to get in most of the tour and spent

                                   the rest of the afternoon exploring.

                                   The Triple Crown of Racing was going on outside so I had to check

                                   that out and get the famous picture of Rocky.

 

Monday, June 9^th     This is the day I was looking forward to all week.  We set off to

                                   Amish country via the scenic route. 

                                   Spent the morning and lunch at the Kitchen Kettle Village that was

                                  suppose to carry Amish goods.  I found Made in China on most

                                  things.  Still spent some serious cash.

                                   Picked up Ada at the Mennonite center after we watched a couple

                                  of films.  Took a beautiful tour of the country and stopped at several

                                  Amish homes to make purchases.

                                   Finished off with dinner at an Katie and Abner Allgyer’s home.  It

                                   was a very nice meal, but that stinkin’ heat killed me.  The

                                   sang for us after dinner.  This is was my favorite day.

 

Tuesday, June 10^th     I am starting to lose the energy and drive.  My patience is worn

                                     thin and I people are on my nerves.  I am not the only one.

                                    We’re walking down to the American Philosphical Society at 9 am

                                     and sweat is dripping off of me.                 

                                     We were treated to some nice artifacts by a pompous library

                                     director and then a very friendly guide across the street gave us a

                                     little background about the group. 

                                    After lunch, we met at the Atwater Kent Museum for a little talk

                                    on abolition.  Had some time to explore the upstairs museum and

                                    we were let loose.

                                    Got back to the Redding Market but it wasn’t much better than the

                                    first time and we finished dinner at the Hard Rock.  I just drank

                                    since I had some not so fresh seafood at the market.

 

Wednesday. June 11^th More lectures.  Two to be exact.  I loved Matt’s saying about

                                       drinking our of fire hydrant, but that is seriously what it’s

                                       beginning to feel like.  All the sights are blending and the

                                      speakers words are slurring. 

                                      Got the afternoon off to explore.  I saw Second Bank, Franklin’s

                                      Underground Museum, Elfred’s Alley and then Sherri and I broke

                                      off.  We hopped on the ferry for a scenic view of Philly and

                                     relaxed with dinner at City Tavern.  That’s where I dropped the ½

                                     C note. 

                                      Finished the day with a meeting at the Quaker Meeting House.  I

                                     got in a little nap. 

 

Thursday, June 12^th We are off to Winterthur.  I had no idea what it was or why we

                                    were going but I just do as I am told at this point. 

                                    It happens to be one of the DuPont mansions.  It was nice.  We

                                    didn’t see that much, but were treated to a nice lunch in their

                                    cafeteria and a tour of the garden.  The children’s Enchanted Forest

                                    was exceptional.

 

Friday, June 13^th One more day…..and it’s Gettysburg.  I didn’t really know what to

                              expect there since we had since our fair share of battlefields.  This one

                              was quite a treat.

                              Finally found our way to Gabor Boritt’s home.  The author of The

                             Gettysburg Gospel.  He was quite a character.  Spoke to us for about a

                               half an hour.

                              Grabbed our tour guide at Gettysburg and spent most of the time on

                               the bus touring around the battlefield of 1,300 monuments.  I was

                               blown away by the shear number.  The information came flying

                               record speed.  The bus driver kept turning off the bus and cooking our

                               skin.  I think he was trying to make it an authentic experience.

                               Finished the day at the brand new Visitor Center.  They had some

                              very moving films and exhibits.

                               Had The Bomb for dinner as a special treat for making it through two

                               weeks of historical bliss. 

 

Saturday, June 14^th I have decided to take the earlier flight home on standby.  It’s a

                                   Travel day and although I have enjoyed myself and learned more

                                   than I can believe, I am really ready to go home.

 

     The real learning doesn’t happen in the classroom, it happens when you walk down the street, sit on a bus, take a trip or have a meal.  Learning involves so much more than our public education system can cover.  Learning is all about people.  It’s about friendships, relationships and the lack there of.  You must learn how to interact, communicate and function in a society that has an ever-changing rule book.  It is crucial that you memorize every rule, and are aware when that rules have changed, or the consequences can be devastating.

 

     How is this trip going to affect my student learning?  It will affect it in the most fundamental way – the way in which I teach.  I am going to do everything possible to be the type of educator that I would want to have.  I am going to listen more.  I am going to slow down.  I am going to watch how I say things, and not be so quick to assume.  I will praise more and criticize less.

   

     Over the last 14 days, I can see how the tribal rules we learn as children can penetrate our adult lives.  We expect our students to treat each other with respect and kindness, but all too often I see that as role models, we are unable to do as we ask.  We rant at the fact of how cruel children are to each other and turn around and say the most hurtful things about one another.  We pick apart our associates and dissect every personality quirk.  We want our students to work together in groups, but separate ourselves into cliques on the first day.  We lament at the one student who has been ostracized by the class, yet make no attempt to welcome and include new adults.  As teachers, we watch helplessly as the class separates into groups:  popular, nerd, jock, brain, teacher’s pet, and the undesirables.  Our groups just have different names:  partiers, serious, rural, Pueblo West, older, younger and the loners.  We abhor gossip!  Yet, some of us spend a considerable about of time talking about the comings and goings of our fellow teachers.  We believe that we know our classroom and all that happens in it, but all too often things are done outside of our sight and hearing.

 

Will I fail at this lofty goal I have set for myself as an educator?  Most assuredly!  I succeed and fail constantly.  I am always learning, and I learned so much more than just American history.