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Chillicothe education students gain historical perspective
of the classroom experience
A group of Ohio University-Chillicothe students in an early childhood education class recently held class at the Salem Academy in nearby South Salem, Ohio, for a first-hand look at the educational experience in a historical perspective and to better understand how culture influences classroom teaching. It is also part of an effort to help students understand the significance of “place-based” education in connecting the classroom with the local community.
Under the direction of early childhood education faculty member Jamie Harmount, the students discussed cultural and social influences that impacted curriculum in 1842, when the historic structure was built, and how the classroom experience has continued to reflect social trends of the day.
By taking a look back, the students are better able to pursue their future careers as educators.
Harmount encouraged the students to consider the culture of this region and the collective factors that contribute to a region’s culture. “As future teachers it is important that they understand the community in which they are teaching so they can better understand the students,” Harmount explained.
“Due to my interest in place-based education and my desire to instill this philosophy in my students, I decided to teach the class this quarter by taking my students to historical areas in Ross County,” Harmount said. “The teacher candidates will be future teachers and they need to understand their community in order to be able to teach their students about the community in which they live.”
The students gained insights from the experience.
“This gives me a better idea of the resources that are available in my community,” said Ryder Ferguson, a graduate of Westfall High School near Circleville. “It helps me to learn to think outside of the box and an idea of what is important to students. I will be a better teacher if I know my students’ background and what is important to them.”
Kylie Frankel, a Zane Trace High School graduate, said, “I can use what I learn from this opportunity to teach students when I am in the classroom. “It is important to know where students are from and what they are going through to better understand them.”
Karissa Carroll, a Southeastern High School graduate, said, “It is important that students understand what their communities have to offer and that they do not need to leave their hometowns after graduating. As future teachers, we want to help the local community grow by having students remain in the region and contribute to their communities after graduation.”
“Place-based education differs from regular classroom and textbook teaching in that it looks at the students’ local community as one of the primary resources for learning. The learning is entrenched in what is local—the unique history, environment, culture, economy, literature, and art of a particular place. This is where the student lives, their school, neighborhood, town or community,” Harmount said.
“Many times students of all ages lose their sense of place through focusing on national and global issues. This does not mean that those issues are not important, but students should have knowledge of their own history, culture, and ecology of their surrounding environment before moving more globally,” Harmount said. “Place-based education immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of many subjects across the curriculum including social studies.”
This quarter, the students visited the Hopewell Culture National Park, the Ross County Historical Society, and the Salem Academy in South Salem.
The Salem Academy thrived as an educational hub from its founding in 1842 until its closing in 1907. Local residents have restored the historic structure, and it now serves as a community center and museum that captures the spirit of Ross County, particularly the settlers of Buckskin Township.
Buckskin historian Lew Speakman led a tour of the museum and explained the significance of the academy and the many pieces in the museum.
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