the date: wednesday, 15 july 2009.
the parameters: the kids spend the day with their teacher, who finds activities to do and places to see that are related to the material they are studying this summer. examples: art history class goes to national portrait gallery; speech and debate class sits in on an open session of parliament.
the things that could go wrong:
1. students could get hit by double decker red buses. (note: while i saw some close encounters, this doesn't appear to have happened.)
2. students could get lost. (note: this did happen. one teacher had two students who didn't show up for dinner, but he didn't tell anyone until they didn't show up to meet the buses to leave london, 2 hours later. um - excuse me? even better: he had miscounted and it was actually THREE students. glad we found them all together, or one (whom he didn't even know was missing) would have been left in london. awesome.)
3. it's england - "sunny intervals" - the weather could be tragic. (note: it rained for a bit, but otherwise was gorgeous!)
4. a child could get sick. (note: one girl threw up, drank a bunch of water to rehydrate, and kept on trucking. that's what i call a team player!)
the job of the teachers: escort their classes around london for 8 hours.
the job of the deans: do whatever you want, with your cell phone on you at all times. if there is an emergency (e.g. #1, 2, or 4 above), you will rush to the scene and assist.
what i did with my fellow deans: went to the national portrait gallery, had lunch at a pub (falafel burger with apple chutney - DELICIOUS - and a beer), walked along the thames, went to the tate britain, had a glass of wine in this cool basement wine cellar, had dinner (roasted veggie pizza - delicious again), met the buses.
things that would not have been kosher had this program been anywhere but europe: the beer and wine while on duty.
i love europe.
2 comments:
That sounds like an amazing day - I am jealous! I love the Portrait Gallery - they always have great temporary exhibits there. If you go back next year, can you get me a job as well?
Sounds like a perfect day in the neighborhood, except for the lost students-I hope you didn't have to deal with it. I am glad you are not far from cows and horses-and you were sooo brave to go right up to them......
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