For the third quarter achievement party, we decided to have an Underground Railroad theme. The students were the slaves, administrator Dervin Martin was the overseer; and teachers Susanna Nolt, Kay Fisher, Ariana Rutt, and Lyndi Good were the sisters who owned the SMS Plantation. Jeff, Caleb Martin, and I were Quakers visiting the plantation. We were the ones who helped them escape.
The ladies helped head cook Hilary Martin (secretary and K-4 Academic Advisor) make our meal, while the gentlemen assisted the landscapers who we had planned would show up that afternoon.
After the meal we all cleaned up, and then "retired to our quarters." Shortly after that, the "Quakers" gave the "slaves" a bandana in which they were to wrap up their corn muffins and metal cup they had brought, and a coffee sack (compliments of New Holland Coffee Co. and Java Taza Coffee) to hide in should the need arise. It did.
After one more close call in the cemetery, we made it to the border of "Canada." Here the owners of the plantation caught up to us. We witnessed to them, and after they repented, they announced to all the "slaves" that they were now officially free. We then ran across the border to the last safe house, my house (which happens to border the park), where molasses cookies and lemonade awaited us. It was an exciting, history-filled evening.
And the next day, I wondered when I saw the first two students walk in with bandanas on their heads. All of the 8th grade girls had attended the achievement party and had decided to wear their knapsack bandanas to school that day.
Disclaimer #1 - Someone asked me about this type of party possibly being offensive to someone. I acknowledge that done in the wrong way, it could be. But we make every effort to do two things to avoid that. First of all, my students know the horrors of slavery. We've talked about and looked at pictures of the Middle Passage. We've discussed families being ripped apart and how slaves were often treated. My students know, without a doubt, how horrible slavery was. That background must first be there.
Then, this wasn't some sit-at-school-and-eat-cupcakes kind of party. We were in dark cellars hiding. We felt, for just a little while anyway, what it would have felt like to have been a slave trying to run away. That is living out history, and it makes it more real to the students. That leads to a deeper understanding of history and what some people had to go through during parts of it.
Disclaimer #2 - We call these "achievement parties" because they are just that -- the students are given a goal to achieve. Depending on their ability there are three levels as follows.
* All "A"s and "B"s on report card
* 77% or above on report card, and bring any grade lower
than an 85 up 5 points
* 70% or higher on report card and have no incomplete
assignments or detentions
This way we feel that every student is at a level where they can achieve and come to the party. We make it as fair as we can; but they do have to put forth some effort.
The ladies helped head cook Hilary Martin (secretary and K-4 Academic Advisor) make our meal, while the gentlemen assisted the landscapers who we had planned would show up that afternoon.
At every other achievement party, the teachers have served the students; but for this one, they served us for a change.
After the meal we all cleaned up, and then "retired to our quarters." Shortly after that, the "Quakers" gave the "slaves" a bandana in which they were to wrap up their corn muffins and metal cup they had brought, and a coffee sack (compliments of New Holland Coffee Co. and Java Taza Coffee) to hide in should the need arise. It did.
Mr. Caleb had gotten permission from the neighboring farmers for us to walk through their fields and woods.
On the way to the first "safe house," we saw that a reward had already been posted for the escapees. We quickly hid in the basement and drank water from the tin cups and ate a corn muffin. 
After a short time of peaceful rest, we heard stomping and yelling upstairs and hid in our coffee sacks. It truly was scary for a little while. And that is why we do this -- so that the students can actually experience a little bit of history and feel what it would have been like to be escaping on the Underground Railroad.
Next we cut through several alleys and made it safely to the second "safe house."
After one more close call in the cemetery, we made it to the border of "Canada." Here the owners of the plantation caught up to us. We witnessed to them, and after they repented, they announced to all the "slaves" that they were now officially free. We then ran across the border to the last safe house, my house (which happens to border the park), where molasses cookies and lemonade awaited us. It was an exciting, history-filled evening.
Disclaimer #1 - Someone asked me about this type of party possibly being offensive to someone. I acknowledge that done in the wrong way, it could be. But we make every effort to do two things to avoid that. First of all, my students know the horrors of slavery. We've talked about and looked at pictures of the Middle Passage. We've discussed families being ripped apart and how slaves were often treated. My students know, without a doubt, how horrible slavery was. That background must first be there.
Then, this wasn't some sit-at-school-and-eat-cupcakes kind of party. We were in dark cellars hiding. We felt, for just a little while anyway, what it would have felt like to have been a slave trying to run away. That is living out history, and it makes it more real to the students. That leads to a deeper understanding of history and what some people had to go through during parts of it.
Disclaimer #2 - We call these "achievement parties" because they are just that -- the students are given a goal to achieve. Depending on their ability there are three levels as follows.
* All "A"s and "B"s on report card
* 77% or above on report card, and bring any grade lower
than an 85 up 5 points
* 70% or higher on report card and have no incomplete
assignments or detentions
This way we feel that every student is at a level where they can achieve and come to the party. We make it as fair as we can; but they do have to put forth some effort.