Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following was published in The Floyd Press on October 20, 2010.

Jessica Cromer’s 6^th grade classes at Check Elementary recently participated in an American History lesson with a dramatic twist.   Dressed in period clothing from other cultures, students took on the roles of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, the New York port of entry where millions of travelers to America were processed during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

“You have to wait in line. There were lots of lines at Ellis Island,” Cromer told the students before they filed into the classroom, which had been transformed into a mock federal immigration station.   She explained that immigrants would have been polite, trying to make a good impression to increase their chances of being accepted into the country.

“My immigrant name is Noah Varga,” said Noah Marsh who wore an oversized suit jacket and was playing the role of a Hungarian coal miner wanting to work in America.  Donned in a knitted kerchief, Taylor Yoho played a seamstress named Taylor Ashby who had made the long ocean journey to America from Great Britian with her sister.  Other countries represented by immigrant characters in the reenactment included Germany, Russia, Ireland, China, and Japan.

There were three stations set up in the classroom, one for health screening, another for literacy testing, and a final review station where the students were asked questions, such as “Why are you coming to America?” and “What is your occupation?” One student playing the role of an immigrant who didn’t speak English was asked if he was willing to learn the language.

Students passing through the health screening station, conducted by guidance counselor Russ Williams, were hoping they wouldn’t be marked with a letter in chalk, signifying a medical problem that could cause them to be detained or quarantined.  “Welcome to America!” Cromer announced as she stamped the homemade passports of those students whose characters were deemed to be healthy and capable.

Foods from the countries represented were prepared by parent volunteers for the occasion. Students sampled Hungarian goulash, a potato dish from Ireland, sauerkraut and sausage from Germany, fried rice from Japan, and Russian tea cookies. Cromer, who has also facilitated mock elections and trials in class, spoke to the students about immigrants leaving their homeland with few belongings and bringing their traditions with them to America.  “The dishes they cooked, we still eat today,” she said.       ~ Colleen Redman