Witnessing History in Washington, D.C.

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

As a Social Studies teacher at a new middle school in the South Bronx, my colleagues and I are constantly frustrated by the limitations we encounter in what we are able to offer our students. Operating in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx, where 95% of our students qualify for free lunch, we constantly struggle to bring valuable experiences to our children that most of them would be unable to have on their own. Many of these experiences are ones that students in wealthier districts take for granted. An 8th grade class trip to Washington DC has long been a rite of passage for 8th grade students in more affluent communities of the Northeast. The teachers at MS 223 firmly believe that the experience of our nation's capital is one that all students deserve to have, and we are committed to accomplish our goal of sending our students there. After two years spent studying American History and preparing for the state exam in June, a trip in April to the city where so much of our country's history has been created would motivate our students and allow them to connect in a real way to the material that they have thus far only been studying in an academic manner. We also believe that such a trip will inspire them to pursue high-quality Exit Projects – which are vital to their promotion – that are related to their experience. A trip to Washington DC will bring men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to life for our students, as they enjoy an evening visit to their memorials. A tour of the Capital, the Supreme Court and the White House will allow our students to engage with three branches of their nation's government as they never have before, while a meeting with their Congressman will allow them to see how their community is represented in the national government. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian museums will bring the deep, sacrificial and inspirational history of our country close to home for our students. On top of the rich history and culture that our students will experience, touring Georgetown and George Washington Universities will give our students a valuable experience with two of our nation's premier universities. We have tried our best to keep our costs as low as possible, coordinating the trip ourselves. We are hoping to raise the majority of the necessary funds from grants, while working hard to supplement those donations with fundraising. Your support would provide funds for all of the needs of 2 students, including transportation, lodging and food for this trip. If you would like to help support other students, please look for other grants posted with the same language. We are requesting scholarships to give the neediest students support and still put a successful trip together. Thanks so much for helping our students bring their history to life!