The Real World in Real Time
Impromptu Field Trip
At the Center School, transportation to and from field trips is provided by teachers and families. Some may see this as an obstacle, however it played in our favor recently as we decided to take an impromptu field trip to downtown Greenfield.
The Backstory
Several weeks ago the Uppers teachers assigned their Homeroom students an article to read from The Greenfield Recorder. The article was about the removal of the benches that sat in front of the pocket park on Main Street in Greenfield. The mayor’s decision was made as a public safety measure due to the uptick in drug overdoses, illegal activity, and arrests in that area. Many citizens and some city councilors believe that the decision to remove the benches does not address the real issues, and is an insult to the unhoused population.
The Work Begins
After reading the article we participated in eye-opening and informative discussions on the matter. Students quickly came to the conclusion that the removal of the benches did not and will not remedy drug addiction, criminal behavior, or mental health issues. Some students chose to write a letter to the mayor and others to the city council.
The Field Trip
It was a beautiful fall day and I was feeling spontaneous. After talking with the teaching team, Kara and I gathered up the 7th and 8th graders and brought our lunches to the pocket park downtown. We sat in a circle on the grass and ate in the sunshine. We discussed what we noticed about the area. One student noticed that the only shady spot in the area was where the benches used to be. Another student mentioned that people were still hanging out there, but standing or sitting on the wall. I went over to the group and explained why our class was there. The people were delighted to hear that we read the article and also felt upset about the mayor’s decision. We met a man named Chad who took the time to tell us a bit about his life, experience with the police, and the people he interacts with downtown. We walked to the mayor’s office to hear directly from her, but she was unavailable and still has not gotten back to us after two weeks. We then visited two eateries, Wild Roots and Mesa Verde, to talk to the staff about their thoughts on the bench removal, experience with the people who frequent the area, and affect on their business. Staff were happy to engage with us and shared their views in the short time we had.
Next Steps
Students will read another article about the bench removal and I will reach back out to the mayor. This work gives students the opportunity to think critically, identify problems, and learn about local issues while demonstrating empathy and understanding for others in our community.