Today we had only two things on the agenda, but they were great things. We visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. As teachers, these two sites are of great interest. Ellis Island for the history created there and the Statue of Liberty for its iconic symbolism to all Americans.
Ellis Island is a lot like the Lower East Side for several reasons. First, it has as its central characters immigrants. Secondly, it has a diverse group of characters. And, lastly, in what I think is the most significant, it is personal and emotional.
The boat ride to the Island was great. We cruised past the Statue of Liberty before we landed at Ellis Island. It was photo-op galore, but more on the lady later. It was interesting to see just how busy the harbor was. There was the Staten Island Ferry, a cruise ship over in Jersey, a coal barge, and several freighters all headed for destinations of someone’s choosing. The message to our kids – take a look around, you never know what you will see. The approach to the Ellis Island was unique, not for how it was done, but for what my mind did with it. It was not 2010 with a group of colleagues from Colorado; no, it was much more. I was imagining myself as an immigrant seeing the Statue of Liberty, the New York skyline, and Ellis Island for the first time. I am sure I could not adequately recreate the feeling, but I was excited none the less.
We stepped ashore and back into history. Ellis Island is not a museum, it is an experience. Our experience began as the hands-on kind. We were met by members of the Save Ellis Island representatives. The program they put together for us was great. It was very hands-on and included a variety of activities. It was an activity that we could take straight to the classroom. Jessica did an excellent job of leading us through it. It did amaze me that she got the items she used on Ebay. History is where you find it. Not only was the activity well done, the information that went with it was equally useful. Another key to the activity was the fact that it was not overwhelming. It flowed very well and did not saturate us with information. It was like Baby Bear’s things in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it was just right. It was visual, oral, kinesthetic, interesting – suffice to say I liked it a lot, as did my colleagues. I could tell they did by the level of involvement. We were into it. Essentially, we were as involved as we want our students to be.
I knew some of the information we used, but not all. For example, I knew they had medical care on the island, but I did not know the doctors were the best in the country. So, once again, I have more tidbits to put in the kit for later. Next we were off on to our tour. We got to go behind closed doors at Ellis Island to a part not open to the general public. The Save Ellis Island Foundation is in the process of restoring the Ferry Building and the hospital on the island. We received a behind the scenes tour. It was an incredible journey into the past. Once again, I was in the early 20th century. I told Chris it reminded me of touring Pullman last year in Chicago. To see the buildings as they are and imagine them as they will be was fun. I liked Jessica’s statement, “There are no absolutes, there are always excludables.” I warn my kids to be careful of using words like; all, never, always, and none in dealing with the study of history. Now I have a quote to put with it.
The Ellis Island museum was an experience. It was modern, yet old. It was interactive, yet introspective. It was real. The baggage belonged to real people. There were real passports on the wall. Everywhere you looked there was reality. I gave up taking pictures as I did not feel they did the subject justice. AS one of my kids said on a trip to the Santuario de Chimayo – I felt the vibe. Enough said.
Next, it was on to Liberty Island and a date with the most famous lady in America. The Statue of Liberty is inspiring. I have seen pictures, but there is no substitution for the real thing. Impressive is all I can say. We took pictures from every angle and probably should have spent the money to go inside. A side note; Matt Damon was there filming a movie. I caught a glimpse of him. To be honest, I was more impressed with the Lady. The NYC skyline from the water is breathtaking. It was a great day. It was an exceptional classroom day. A great lesson was taught to us and we were given a jump drive with a teacher’s treasure trove of usable items. I also like Jessica’s thought that buildings are artifacts, too. That is not exactly how she put it, but I got the idea. Ellis Island is a remarkable place and the resources to teach immigration that are available should make it a teacher’s favorite.
