Engaged Citizenship

This course explores: (1) the history of storytelling (myth, oration, theater, etc.) in Ancient Greece and its impact on human belief and relationships, with an exploration of how storytelling can forge relationships and reinforce ethical behaviors, (2) the current refugee crisis and its human impact, (3) media-making and journalism, equipping students with the tools they need to tell their own stories for social change. Students develop an academic foundation of storytelling and its history, an in-depth understanding of the political and social factors contributing to the refugee crisis, with a specific focus on the media’s impact on how we view issues in the refugee crisis, as well as the role NGOs and individuals play in humanitarian aid.

Students explore photography, graphic design, podcasting, and filmmaking as powerful media for sharing stories. Students will spend the majority of their travel in Athens, with a few notable trips to surrounding regions in Greece, to reinforce and deepen this learning and volunteer with organizations like Love Without Borders for Refugees in Need and Shedia Street Paper to learn firsthand about refugee experiences, the power of art to connect and educate people, and the role of constructive journalism. Upon return, students will host an art show at George School where they will share their experiences and use art and media to educate our local community about the refugee crisis in Greece.

Students in this course read, appreciate, and analyze Vergil’s Aeneid in English and use it to develop the skills of discussion, close reading, literary analysis, and writing for a credit in English. For a Latin credit, students establish an understanding of the craft of translation, comparing published English translations of excerpts of the text and composing their own. They also enhance their translating skills while learning about the legends and history of Rome’s founding, the historical events surrounding the Aeneid’s composition, and other historical episodes relevant to the Aeneid by reading excerpts of other texts in Latin.

During the travel segment of the course, students trace a portion of Aeneas’ journey from the ancient city of Troy in modern-day Turkey, to Mt. Etna (the home of the Cyclops) in Sicily, to Rome itself, stopping to explore Pompeii along the way. We visit relevant archeological sites, explore art and history museums, and read Latin inscriptions in situ. The trip will also fulfill the GS service requirement. While in Naples and Rome, we will join a local group dedicated to the improvement and beautification of public spaces for a history walk and clean-up of areas of historical significance. During the on-campus portions of the course, the students will put their Latin knowledge to work by helping local middle school Latin students.

This interdisciplinary combined course and trip begins with classroom instruction Term 7 and culminates with travel to France, offerent students a firsthand experience related to their five-week classroom studies. This course, taught in French, focuses on essential themes in French history and culture, utilizing authentic materials such as press articles, videos, podcasts, historical documents, comic books, children’s books for assessment in listening, speaking, reading and writing and writing skills. Topics include the discovery of prehistoric cave art, Roman Gaul, and Quaker history in France, with a particular emphasis on Paris and the South of France. Environmental considerations in travel, such dining and transportation choices, are integrated.

We will be spending 10 days at La Maison Quaker in Congénies, 3 days in Sarlat, and 3 days in Paris before returning to the States. This program involves collaborative efforts with the aging Quaker community at La Maison Quaker in the South of France. Activities include restoring historic gravestones, preserving Quaker life stories and learning the art of boutis for contributing to a quilt panel representing La Maison Quaker.

This trip offers participants an immersive tour of several Holocaust-related historical sites in and around Krakow, Poland. Four of our eight days abroad will be spent at Auschwitz, both the main camp (Auschwitz I) and its auxiliary, Auschwitz II/Birkenau. Our itinerary in Poland will be set by the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, founded by Auschwitz survivor Eva Mozes Kor. Participants will experience Kor’s journey through her audio tour, learn the history of authentic sites with professional guides, and become witnesses both to historical atrocity and to the healing power of forgiveness. Eva’s son, Dr. Alex Kor, will accompany our group and offer personal insights.

Days not spent visiting Auschwitz will be spent visiting Holocaust-related sites walkable from Krakow (Plaszow concentration camp, Oskar Schindler’s enamelware factory, Krakow ghetto fighters memorial, remains of the Krakow ghetto wall, the former Jewish quarter of Krakow). Additionally, we will visit some sites important to Polish culture and heritage, which may include the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wawel Castle, and/or St. Mary’s Cathedral.