11th Grade Students Take American Lit/History Tour
by admin | Apr 27, 2015 | News
by Monica Maravilla
Geneva students and teachers are blessed with scores of opportunities to take unique field trips. I recently had the privilege of leading the junior class on a trip to Alabama and Georgia to visit sites of great import to American Literature and History.
We spent the first day in Monroeville, Alabama, visiting the Monroe County Museum, which is dedicated to the lives and works of authors Harper Lee and Truman Capote. That evening we attended a performance of To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted from Lee’s novel by the same title. Other highlights of the first day included standing in the very courtroom Lee describes in her novel when Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, viewing the ruins of Capote’s childhood home, and eating fried green tomatoes — a first for some students — at Radley’s Grill.
The next day we drove to Andersonville, Georgia, to walk the grounds of one of the largest and most notorious Civil War prison camps. We also visited the Andersonville National Cemetery and National Prisoner of War museum, both of which were sobering experiences. The monument which made the strongest impression on me was fittingly inscribed with Zechariah 9:12, which reads “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope.” This chapter closes with, “On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!” (16-17a).
While the intent of the trip was for students to develop lasting memories of literary and historic landmarks and a greater appreciation of the people who helped shape our rich culture, my hope, above all, is that this trip will ultimately increase the students’ appreciation for God’s truth, goodness, and beauty.
