Westfield students take a West “field” trip

By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com

For Westfield Washington Schools students, summer break came a week later than usual this year, but not before some students had the opportunity to learn more about their city – from its founding to how it operates today.

Organized by Westfield Washington Historical Society (WWHS) President Jeff Beals and Programs Coordinator Barbara Day, the WWHS Museum, the Barker Cabin, City Hall, and Basile Westfield Playhouse welcomed fifth graders from Westfield Intermediate School on Tuesday, May 21. Third graders from Carey Ridge Elementary School received a similar tour on Thursday, May 23.

Day said the field trip was the result of a joint effort and allowed the students to experience a great mix of the community.

At the cabin, Beals and WWHS Membership Coordinator Diana Peyton volunteered their time to talk to students about the history of the cabin and what it would have been like for Nicholas and Fanny Barker’s 11 children who lived there in the early to mid-1800s. For not only most of the students but for many of the adult chaperones, as well, this marked their first time visiting the historic cabin.

Next door in the City Hall building, students viewed the collections at the WWHS Museum and heard from Westfield native Judith Stanley Shuck, who is the great-great-granddaughter of an abolitionist.

“Judy did such a good job talking about the Underground Railroad,” WWHS Archivist Brendan White said.

In the City Hall Assembly Room, Westfield Clerk-Treasurer Marla Ailor and Redevelopment Commission President Joe Plankis spoke to the students about the inner workings of local government.

“I was asked to speak on certain subject matter based on their curriculum,” Ailor said. “I was trying to show them how the system of checks and balances really works on the local, state, and federal level. I also wanted to teach them that it is important to be involved in civic discourse.”

With each class, Ailor selected students to sit in the city council seats on the dais and presented them with multiple agenda items to discuss and vote on.

“They had a lovely little debate about whether they wanted to pay for these items,” Ailor said. “They were able to discuss whether they thought each was a good idea, then make motions, second, and vote. The kids were definitely engaged. They seemed most fascinated with the amount of money the city has on hand, which is about $150 million coming in and out. Of course, the kids loved getting to speak into the microphones and, for a very few, to bang the gavel. It was one of the highlights of my six-month career so far.”

Ailor hopes that the students will take with them the lessons that it’s important to vote and that it’s their civic duty to show up and express their opinions.

Just across the parking lot, students also got to tour the light and sound booth at the Basile Westfield Playhouse and see the set for the current production You Can’t Take It With You, which is playing through June 9. Main Street Productions board members John Sampson and Teresa Skelton talked with the students about the history and importance of having a local theater in Westfield. We might even have a few future actors on our hands as some of the students expressed interest in how auditions work.

“Hosting field trips has always been important to the Westfield Washington Historical Society,” Beals said.

Future plans include expansion beyond Westfield Washington Schools to offer field trips to other area schools, churches, senior living facilities, and any other groups, according to Beals. For more information about the Westfield Washington Historical Society & Museum, visit wwhs.us.