The rumor spreads from one class to the next. There’s talk of permission slips and professional attire. Then it’s official. There’s going be a field trip.
Students have noticed new field trips this year, such as the sophomores’ trip to the Jewish Community Center and the junior’s trip to the Witte Museum’s Bodies Revealed Exhibition.
“It’s really about having the attitude of, instead of asking ‘Why’, asking ‘Why not?’” assistant principal Brad Herbert said. “It’s one of those things where we just thought, ‘Let’s go for it!’”
English teacher Patricia Jasso, who helped organize the Holocaust Museum trip, can attest.
“A student actually had the idea to go,” Jasso said. “It was a lot of work, logistically, but there was a lot of support.”
The National Education Association reported that educational field trips lead to a more engaged and intellectually curious students, inside and out of school, based on a study conducted by the US Travel Association.
“A field trip gives new perspective on what we learn in classrooms,” junior Meyha Patel said. “The trip to the Witte showed parts of the body that helped with anatomy.”
Sophomore Ruby Pena who visited the JCC Holocaust Museum appreciates learning without the pressure of being in the classroom.
“My favorite part of the field trip was getting to talk to Holocaust survivors,” sophomore Ruby Pena said. “We weren’t just getting facts, we were hearing about it personally. You can just learn and not be stressed.”
A study by the University of Arkanas found that students are likely to not only retain factual information learned on a field trip, but also saw an increase in their critical thinking skills.
“Field trips are what kids really remember, and they’re always a good thing to offer,” Hebert said.