It's amazing what a hard day's work and a campfire can do to someone. I find it one of the most relaxing things one can do...and today, I did just that. As I sat by the fire, I thought about my favorite civil war character, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. He was from Maine, a teacher, who volunteered during the civil war and was ultimately made a colonel in the Union Army. His regiment was the 20th Maine and his civil war exploits are well known to most history geeks. It was his bayonet charge during the Battle of Gettysburg that was instrumental in a northern victory. As much as I love talking about Chamberlain, or watching the movie Gettysburg, today isn't about the heroism of war.
Chamberlain was a professor at Bowdoin College in Maine. He taught rhetoric and other fancy stuff, but he also tried to impart on his students a better form of character. In a biography I read about him, many years ago, the author described a moment from early in Joshua's childhood. His father charged him with cutting wood for the upcoming winter. Chamberlain began working when his grandfather came to help. Soon, other members of the family were helping too. Chamberlain was surprised, but his grandfather explained that many hands make light work. If you pitch in and lend a hand, then the job becomes less difficult.
Today, I experienced that the way that Chamberlain had back in the early 1800s. I arrived in Lyman, Maine around 8am. I was not too happy to give my weekend to manual labor, but I had been asked by my parents to help with fixing the dirt road to our house on Wadleigh Pond. The job was difficult. Two truckloads of dirt and gravel were dropped off and we began loading our trucks. This is when the Chamberlain moment hit me. Folks from all up and down the road emerged to lend a helping hand. People I've waved to for years were working next to me as we repaired our little dirt road. Our tough job was made much easier because our neighbors all pitched in. It was really cool and it is something we don't find often enough down by Boston.
It took us four hours to fix about a mile and a half of road. I'm sore. My shoulder is aching. I'll probably need some type of surgery, lol, but it's done.
Most of you are probably watching the Bruins game right now, but I have never been much of a hockey fan. I'll probably watch some future games, but I wanted to take some time to finalize some thoughts I've had about this past spring and my recent trip to Washington DC.
One of my favorite authors, David McCullough once wrote that travel changes a person. He claims that seeing other places and visiting new worlds makes us better appreciate where we come from and who we are. It is a message that truly has impacted my life and until this past spring, I really only connected it with my travels to Europe. In a paraphrase of Socrates, I've learned that I know that I don't know enough...and that is all that I need to know. This past Spring has taught me so much that I hadn't known and I am so grateful for it.
I am thinking back on the past week and my time with the students of the Belmonte Middle School. Back in January, I had looked at this trip as the end of a very busy part of my life. There was a point when I almost asked to have Ms. Robbins find me a replacement, but I am very glad I didn't. This trip was supposed to be the end, but in reality, it just signaled a new beginning for me. I mentioned in my Graduation Blog that teaching is cyclical. Students enter our lives for a brief period of time. They do their work. They graduate. They move on and others take their place. This past week for me was simply the beginning of a new cycle. It was fitting that so many of the students who traveled to Washington DC with me are the younger brothers and sisters of former students of mine. It built a stronger bond with them and, for those entering Saugus High School next year, I think it will ease some of their potential anxiety knowing that Ms. Payne and myself will be there to greet them.
Our bus ride was long and exhausting. It tested our patience in numerous ways, but ultimately it wasn't that bad. As I mentioned in a previous post, I had heard some kids saying, it's just like a giant slumber party. The rain was also bad. It could have ruined our trip, but it only lasted a brief time, and we all dried off. I told the kids that it is these types of things that make trips more memorable. They are the bonding moments that hold our memories together as we move into the future. Early on our trip, we drove past the exit for Newtown, Connecticut. I posted a picture from the highway. One our return trip, at one particularly exhausting moment, I happened to check Google Maps on my phone. We were, once again, on the outskirts of Newtown. This time it was too dark for the kids to notice, but I stopped thinking about how terrible the ride had been and I started focusing on the laughter of the kids sitting behind me.
In an instant, I had changed my attitude. I remembered coming home from Ireland after learning about Boston and after losing Nan. I was in a true funk. The trip had been excellent and all of the kids had a life changing experience, but I was exhausted...and frustrated with the politics of work. It was at that moment that I opened my email and found out that our little "Thank a Teacher" experiment with Saugus, California had had an impact. My attitude changed instantly. While my life has been way crazier since opening the email from a reporter in South Carolina, I wouldn't change it for anything. Paying it forward in January came back to help me when I needed it in late April.
This past week, while we were in DC, family members from the shootings at Sandy Hook were also in DC. They were asking Congress to consider stricter gun laws and other laws that might prevent such tragedies from happening in the future. Regardless of your political opinions, it is important to stop and listen to people who have lost so much. It makes me think of Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Mrs. Bixby. His letter is an example of a great man remembering what greatness truly is. It is humility. It is compassion. It is taking some time to think about others and acting accordingly.
At some point yesterday, I don't remember exactly when, I ran into a Starbucks to buy an iced coffee. I couldn't find a Dunkin Donuts and needed some caffeine. I took off without the kids noticing, but when we were all on the bus, they saw me and got jealous...more on this later.
Yesterday, we woke in Springfield, Virginia. We entered Washington for a final time and visited the Newseum. I had low expectations for this stop because I had heard they were opening an exhibit to Ron Burgondy. I even secretly hoped it would be canceled for an earlier return time to Saugus. I was wrong. This museum was wonderful. A journalist and an historian are not much different. Even with writing this Blog for the past few months, I had lost sight of that. They had a really cool 4-D video that explains their mission statement. It highlighted three different reporters from three different eras. It used innovative technology to tell kids about the past and it made connections to our present. It was only 20 minutes but I would have happily sat there and watched many more tales of journalists from our past making a difference.
The Newseum had a ton of really cool exhibits. As our group was gathering, I noticed an older man in a shirt and tie standing in the atrium watching a giant screen. I asked him if he worked there, and when hearing that he did, I thanked him for his work. I told him how much I, and the kids, enjoyed his museum. We spoke for a few minutes about favorite exhibits and what his role was at the museum. Two of the most poignant pieces of their collection are the Antenna from the World Trade Center and the largest segment of the Berlin Wall inside the United States. I didn't realize it at the time, but the gentleman I was speaking with was Frank Bond. He is the official video blogger of the Newseum and runs their podcasts. I only found this out by researching their Berlin Wall section tonight and seeing his picture...small world = cool stuff.
This year has been a tumultuous one for me with all that has happened in Saugus. My travels have provided a respite from the craziness, but have also caused additional stresses. In all of these experiences, the kids of Saugus have been there. From the first week of school, many of them expressed their wish that I would return to the classroom. As things got crazy, I could always count on kids to bring me back to some normalcy. Whether in a haunted hotel in Wales, standing in front of 10,000 people in Saugus, California, or checking our shoes for gum across from the Federal Reserve Building, I have been fortunate enough to share these experiences with some great people.
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned how travel changes people; how it makes them appreciate their home more by experiencing other places. I've realized that my home town is a great place. We've got problems, but who doesn't? We live in a place with a great tradition and a really cool story of its own. Today, I was at a graduation party for one of my favorite students. Her house is located near our historic town cemetery. Inside that cemetery rests two families with incredible stories. One is Parson Joseph Roby and the other is the resting place for many in the Newhall family. Roby lends his name to our School Administration building. During the revolutionary period, Roby was the religious leader of our town. He led parishioners in their devotions and he taught their children the message of God. He serves symbolically as our first teacher. The Newhall family still lives in Saugus, but they've reached across this country. It was one of their descendants that went west and founded a small municipality in Santa Clarita Valley, California. These two family fought for our country's freedom after the fighting in Lexington and Concord. They both met George Washington, during the Revolution, as he traveled through our town and rested at Newhall Tavern.
As I stood there, in her yard, reminiscing about the past four years with some of her closest friends, many of whom had traveled with me in my first trip this Spring, I noticed one of my fellow travelers from Bus 2. The younger sister of a former student, she saw me and smiled. She quickly came over to say hello and to remind me of the promise I made to her and three of her friends. She informed me that she has a great memory and that she doesn't forget...you see, just 24 hours before, after buying an iced coffee, I had promised that I would buy her and three of her friends some Starbucks, but that they would have to wait until they graduated. So, four years from now, I will hopefully still be writing this blog and hopefully I will be writing about the circle of my life and the spring to remember. I hope to be writing about a visit to Starbucks with four graduated seniors about to begin the rest of their lives. Kids who will be leaving Saugus, but will hopefully find a new appreciation of their hometown with wherever they may go. As I said my goodbyes to class of 2013 and walked to my truck, I realized that trip to Washington DC was not the final trip of this Spring, but the beginning of new memories, journeys, and adventures that have yet to come...and with many new blog posts to follow.
BRUINS WIN!!!
At some point yesterday evening the 10,000th viewing of "Where in the World is Mr. Lavoie?" occurred. I don't know who it was...if it was their first time visiting...or their 30th, but it means an awful lot to me. I am humbled every time I see a new post from a thankful parent or receive an email with a similar message. I didn't think it would be as popular as it has become, but I am glad that some folks have found some enjoyment in these posts. I've heard from a few Belmonte parents that had asked for links to a couple of things mentioned in this blog. Below is a link to the Picasa Website that has an album of over 150 pictures that I took.
I'll be hosting a meeting at 6:30pm on June 25th at the high school's library. All are welcome.
Thanks for reading...I'll be back in a month with a family trip to Ireland.
Mr. Lavoie, currently in Saugus, Mass. Psyched that the Bruins won and wondering if this means I need to blog throughout the remaining games in this series.
Well, we are on the bus. I am blogging using a mobile hotspot that could go out at any minute, This post will be a short one. I typically like to write a summation post at the end of the trip...and will probably do so tomorrow.
Our ETA in Saugus is roughly 1:30am. It's been a really long day, but the kids have been resilient. I've been getting to know many of them and I cannot wait to potentially teach them next year. I've also noticed something else in them...it's really cool to see, too.
They have every right to be upset and tired and annoyed with this journey home, but they are not. Our bus is filled with laughter right now. I heard some kids talking from about halfway down the bus. They said that this is like a giant slumber party. I've always maintained that we make our own adventures in life...that we hold the power to make bad situations better simply by possessing a positive attitude. I am seeing this in them. It is really cool.
We are about to enter Connecticut and I am going to sign off. I will see you all soon enough.
Mr. Lavoie, currently on I-84 and heading back towards Boston.
It's about 12:45 in the morning and we are just wrapping up an incredible day in DC and Baltimore.
In spite of the weather forecasts, we have survived another day in our Nation's capital and while the rain may have dampened our raincoats it could not dampen our spirits. Honestly, the weather wasn't too bad...we avoided most of the rain.
We had our usual breakfast at Magills and took off for the city. I did hear one of the boys telling how much he enjoyed the Biscuits and Gravy...he said he had three servings. Ms. Payne and I warned him that it was that tasty. We headed into the city for a group photo at the Capital Building. Unfortunately, we encountered our first deluge...yes, first. Here are some photos:
The decision was made to scrap the photo and try to take in some monuments. As we were driving to the Lincoln Memorial, the weather took a turn for the better and we headed back to the Capital building for another attempt. I'm not sure how it works, but we made it and I think it will be quite a group photo.
After our group picture was taken, we headed back towards the Lincoln Memorial. We visited three memorials during this stop. Obviously, we saw Lincoln sitting above the reflecting pool, but we also saw the Korean and Vietnam War memorials.
The Korean War Memorial is one of my favorite DC memorials. First, the historic significance of remembering what is known as "The Forgotten War" is incredibly important...but there is more than just that. It is filled with symbolism. There are 19 soldiers walking on patrol in the memorial. Each branch of the military is represented. There is an Air Force Communications Officers, A Navy Corpsman, and two Marines accompanying the Army soldiers. The photo above shows the Corpsman (Medic) and Marines. There is also a wall next to the memorial with engraved photographs of men and woman who played a role in the Korean War. On a sunny day, the reflection of the soldiers is clearly visible. In this view, 38 men are shown. This signifies the Line of Demarcation on the 38th parallel separating North and South Korea.
The Lincoln Memorial seems to be the odds on favorite of most of the kids. All trip, they've been saying how much they wanted to see it. With the rain coming down pretty hard earlier, we almost had to cancel it, but we did not. I think it is great that they wanted to see it. These students have not yet learned about the role Abraham Lincoln played in American History, but roughly 150 years after his presidency, his legacy lives on with the necessity of a classroom. Don't worry parents, when they are at the high school next year, we will be sure to teach them about Lincoln and how he shaped America.
The vantage point from atop the Lincoln Memorial is a clear picture of the Washington Monument and the Capital building in the distance. It is there, you might need to squint, but it is there, lol.
These four brave young ladies posed in front of Lincoln's statue to give perspective on the size of the sculpture. Lincoln is massive and so was his impact on ending slavery and preserving the union. He is one of my favorite Presidents and I think the most critical in shaping America for the future. I think it is fitting that he sits overlooking the reflective pool and is flanked by the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials. Lincoln was a man who despised war. He often sat and pondered the events of his lifetime. He knew he was not perfect and he understood basic human nature...he allowed those characteristics to guide his decisions. The Secretary of War during his presidency often scolded Lincoln for pardoning too many young men who fled the battlefield. Lincoln didn't flinch. He knew that these men had families and that war was ravaging their homes. He thought about how his actions impacted others...I think we need more Lincoln's in our government today, regardless of political affiliations.
These two young ladies took a break from the emerging sun and sat beneath a quoted passage from Lincoln's second inaugural address. They were not aware, at the time, that their choice of seating location would spawn an impromptu history lesson from myself...but they seemed to appreciate my lecture. :)
The Washington Monument is under construction because of the earthquake a couple of years ago. This pose is a common photo-op for concerned American tourists who want to help in the construction of the monument.
Students from Bus 1 and 3 joining in some fellowship and relaxation on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. They said they were having a great time and they truly enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial. They had already visited the Vietnam Memorial and were about to visit the Korean War Memorial.
As far as I know, Saugus, Massachusetts only lost two soldiers during the Vietnam War. Their names were Richard Devine and Stanley Egan. After a quick talk from our tour guide, I mentioned these names to our students and told them where they might find the names upon the wall. The photo above is for Stanley Egan. This part of our trip was one of the most poignant for me, and for all of us. You can see some roses left at the base of the wall...along the entire wall there were many flowers, letters, and other mementos left to fallen comrades. These touching and affectionate gestures had an impact on many as the kids read through some of the letters. There were several Vietnam Veterans there as well and I was very impressed with the manner in which our students acted. Not only did many of them seek out Richard Devine and Stanley Egan's memorial, but they did it with reverence. I was very proud of them.
Richard Devine is remembered by fellow Saugonians.
After our visit to these three memorials, we, on Bus #2, had to wait around a little bit for our bus driver. I took the opportunity for some group photos.
This is them pointing at me.
This is them Disco Dancing!!!
This is them standing on one foot.
This is them realizing that they stepped on some gum...they didn't.
This is them celebrating because the bus just pulled up...it didn't
Eventually, the bus did find us. He took us to the Mall and our guide introduced us to many of the Smithsonian Museums. We stopped at the Air and Space Museum for lunch and were off to enjoy the many sights and sounds of flight. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet up with my Brother, Nephew, and Niece for lunch. They moved to the DC area in August and I hadn't seem them nearly as much as I would have liked.
After Lunch, our buses broke into groups led by their chaperons. The kids got to decide which museums to visit. I was touched by the words of one student who opted for a shorter lunch break so that we'd have more time for museums. I realized that these kids "get it." They understand what I have understood since my first time traveling outside of the country..."One must travel to learn." Mark Twain's words are as true today as when he first penned them. I truly enjoyed this part of the trip. The kids decided on the Museum of Natural History (Dinosaurs) and the Museum of American History (Cool stuff from our past). We spent about an hour in each, but could have spent days!!!
We eventually survived our second deluge...torrential rains as we boarded our buses. Once on the buses, however, the rains subsided and we were off to Baltimore for the Orioles game. The title of today's blog is in honor of the game...
Belmonte Middle School Teacher, Patti Romano on the field representing our school.
Mrs. Romano being accosted by the Orioles Mascot...notice she's not wearing a Red Sox Hat.
Our seats...last row!!!
We owned Section 340 and much of 336 too.
John was busy all night delivering Soda, Water, and Lemonade. He took orders and then delivered...nothing but the best for Belmonte Middle School.
Where we first met upon entering the Stadium.
I crept down for a closer look during the second inning.
The game was tied at the end of the 9th inning and we needed to return to our hotel. By the time we got here, we had learned that the good guys from Boston has lost to the dreaded Os. We still had a great time and while some of us are a little homesick, we are excited for our last day. I am going to try to upload more photos to the Picasa Album for this trip at some point tomorrow. The wifi connection is not stellar here and I apologize for that. I am humbled by the many kind words that I've received the past few days. I never thought that I'd have the readership numbers that I am seeing and I am very pleased. I expect that this trip will put my little blog over 10,000 views and I am blown away by that...so Thank you!!!
Mr. Lavoie, currently in shock that it took me an hour to write tonight's blog...oh well, it was worth it.
We started by having breakfast at a place that caters to large groups. We shared the place with middle schoolers from Swampscott. It was a buffet style restaurant with a wide variety of options. Many of the kids grabbed some cereal and I saw one young man with a plate full of bacon (boy, was I jealous). Not as many of the kids tried the traditional southern breakfast fare of grits and/or biscuits and gravy. We did our best, throughout the day, to encourage them to expand their breakfast horizons. I'm thinking some of them will at least try the biscuits and gravy.
The first stop for us was Arlington National Cemetery. We drove passed the Pentagon on the way in and the kids seemed surprised at the size of the building. For those reading who have never seen it, the building is very large and can hold over 30,000 employees...that's more than the population of Saugus. The building is the largest office building in the world according to Wikipedia.
At Arlington National Cemetery, we were reminded quickly about the dignity and solemnity of our visit. A caisson was being escorted through the cemetery. After we paused, to allow it to pass, our guide told us that there are approximately 27 funerals a day. The flag flies at half staff a half-hour before the first ceremony and stays at that position until a half-hour after the final funeral of the day. It was a somber experience and made us realize the sacrifices our soldiers have made for us over time.
We visited a number of important locations inside Arlington. We saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Eternal Flame, the grave sites of Edward and Robert Kennedy, and the final resting place of a number of other important American servicemen and political officials. Our guide was good to point out many of those who were originally from Massachusetts.
For me, and many of the kids that I talked too, the most impressive thing we witnessed was the changing of the guard. The young men in uniform whom we watched were so perfect in their work. Their steps were all in unison and the routine was so well rehearsed. I still cannot get over it. I was recently in London, England and witnessed the changing of the guards at one of the British sites...ours was much more impressive.
The weather has been hot since our arrival and we really started to feel it today. Whenever possible, we stopped underneath some shade and learned a little more history from our guides.
After Arlington National Cemetery, it was time for us to visit some other sites. We took some time to visit the Holocaust Museum and to learn about the struggles experienced by Jewish people during the Second World War. We participated in an exhibit known as Daniel's Story. This told the tale of a young Germany and Jewish boy. We walked through his house and met some of his friends, but then things changed. The Nazis took over and began restricting Daniel's freedoms. Eventually, his family was relocated to a Ghetto and ultimately a concentration camp. After completing the story, I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of the boys on Bus #2. They were really impressed with the exhibit. I was very impressed with the attitudes and reverence paid by all of our kids throughout the day.
On a side note, next April, I will be leading a tour of high school students to Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. We will be visiting two concentration camps: Dachau and Auschwitz. The trip is open to all Saugus High School students who are in good academic standing and who have no disciplinary issues. The youngsters attending this trip, as long as they attend SHS, will be eligible to attend. I've taken Freshman with me on all trips that I've run and encourage you to consider this experience for your child. If interested, you can check out more information by clicking here. I'll be hosting an informational meeting in the Saugus High School library on June 25th at 6:30pm. Anyone interested can receive additional information by emailing me at rlavoie@saugus.k12.ma.us.
We had a quick lunch at the Ronald Reagan building and then made our way to see the Martin Luther King, Jr memorial. This monument was quite impressive and literally and figuratively showcased the progress that Dr. King had made in the Civil Rights Movement.
From the MLK, Jr. Memorial we walked towards the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial. If you've never been to DC, you have to understand that famous monuments are everywhere even when you don't expect them. The Capital and the Washington Memorial seem to dominate the skyline.
The FDR memorial is one of the cooler places we visited today. The shade provided by the nearby trees and the gentle breeze complimented by the rushing of water at the multitude of waterfalls quickly made this site one of our favorites. The memorial is divided into four sections, each one representing a term of FDR's presidency.
After visiting these memorials, we drove past Embassy Row and saw a plethora of foreign flags hanging proudly outside of the corresponding embassies. At the conclusion of this jaunt, we arrived at the National Cathedral. This cathedral stands over 300 feet tall and is very reminiscent of the cathedrals I've seen in Europe. It is always a cool thing to see someone who is visiting their first cathedral and I saw many wide eyes and jaws dropped. We had a really interesting tour and I think the kids learned quite a bit.
We returned to our hotel and began our preparations for the evening's dance. I tried to grab a couple of photos of students from other buses. If you are reading this blog and haven't seen your child, I apologize. I am trying...but there are so many kids, lol. Feel free to encourage them to come up to me if the opportunity presents itself and I can try to work them into a photo.
As you can tell, the kids all looked great and they were excited for the dance. We learned we'd be sharing the boat with students from Dover-Sherborne.
Our boat was the Cherry Blossom. It was a traditional looking river boat with two decks for dancing and food galore. The kids seemed to have a great time and I think some made some new friends.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the dance. Some of the chaperons had to volunteer to stay off of the boat because of the capacity allowed on the Cherry Blossom. We decided to grab dinner at the Chart House. A fine dining establishment overlooking the river. We were surprised to learn that the tour company was picking up the tab for our inconvenience. It was a pleasant surprise and dinner was great!!!
Well, It is almost 12:30 and we've got a long day ahead of us. I was pleased to see so many people reading this blog and even commenting. Your words were welcomed and appreciated. I hope that this type of platform is an innovative way to connect you to your child's experience in our Nation's capital and that you are enjoying these posts. Till tomorrow...
Mr. Lavoie, currently splitting time between his blogging and the Bruins game which has just entered another overtime period. My fingers are crossed that the B's will win, but my eyes are telling me I wont know until the morning.
