OXFORD, Miss. – Thirteen University of Mississippi education students – from sophomores through doctoral candidates – will turn their backs on ski slopes and sandy beaches during spring break (March 15-21), heading instead to Greece for a firsthand look at that country’s education system.
Seeking a global perspective of the cultural context of education, the students plan to spend the week observing and teaching at Anatolia College (elementary school) in Thessaloniki. They also will interview students and faculty members at the American College of Thessaloniki and conduct research.
“The value of this experience is that students have wonderful opportunities to enhance their sense of intercultural competence,” said Debby Chessin, UM associate professor of curriculum and instruction and coordinator of service learning, who will accompany the students to Greece. “Exploring and understanding the roots of diversity will, hopefully, help our education students create classroom climates and instruction that is responsive to diverse students’ needs.”
The trip is part of the semester-long course Special Topics: The Greek Classroom, which has among its goals the comparison and contrast of American and Greek education systems for a better understanding of interrelationships between culture and education. Taught by Chessin, the course offers three hours of undergraduate (EDUC 333) or graduate (EDUC 555) credit.
On board for Greece is Rebecca Hare of Houston, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction. A previous study trip to Liverpool, England, inspired her to enroll for this study abroad.
“I learned so much more (in Liverpool) than I could have ever learned by staying in the United States, so when I found out there was a trip to Greece and we would get to see how schools work there, I signed up within the same week,” she said. “By experiencing as many cultures as possible, I hope to have a greater understanding of children in my own classroom, as they are increasingly more culturally diverse.”
Sierra Ulrich of The Woodlands, Texas, a senior elementary education major who spent last summer as a student teacher in Liverpool, agreed.
“The (Liverpool) experience was so beneficial that I could not wait to go abroad again. I want to bring that unique perspective back to the schools in Mississippi. I am really looking forward to learning more about Greek culture and sharing those experiences with my peers at UM.”
A significant difference in the Greek and U.S. education systems is that states assume the responsibility for American public education, while Greek schools, both public and private, are centrally managed by the country’s Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.
As for ethnic and cultural differences, Chessin made an applicable observation when she visited the ACT campus in spring 2008.
“I noticed that the student and teaching population was quite homogeneous in terms of Greek heritage and religion,” she said.
“They experienced a large period of immigration starting in 1990. Most immigrants are from Albania and have come to find work.”
On this trip to Greece, Chessin plans to conduct daily, two-hour sessions with her UM students. Preparation for the trip has included reading and discussing research articles in class this semester. In addition to all other course requirements, master’s and doctoral students must write an article for publication, including an annotated bibliography, on a topic approved by the instructor.
Aside from their extensive studies while in Greece, the students get to tour the historic regions of Thessaloniki, hike a portion of Mt. Olympus and enjoy time on a beach near the Greek Isles.
Some of the students expect the sojourn will be life-changing. Elementary education sophomore Jenny Aycock of Jackson said she is looking forward to “the entire experience – being somewhere totally different for the first time in my life.”
“I think I’ll be able to understand what I’m studying more, and getting to meet people from a totally different lifestyle will reflect on how I live my life,” she said.
Other participants in the study abroad include two veteran teachers from Pontotoc who are enrolled as doctoral degree candidates at UM. They are Deedie Pearson, inclusion/resource/behavior specialist at Pontotoc City Schools, and Donna Akers, inclusion/resource/behavior specialist at Pontotoc High School, who have logged 26 years and 17 years of teaching, respectively.
Both Akers and Pearson are National Board Certified Teachers.
Pearson said this study abroad is “an exciting way to broaden our knowledge of educational practices in other countries while increasing our cultural awareness.”
“Ole Miss offers amazing opportunities for students to experience daily life in other countries,” she added. “We hope to share what we learn on this trip with our students and other educators in our district and throughout the state.”
The study is made possible through an exchange partnership with the UM Study Abroad Office and the American College of Thessaloniki.
Other students traveling to Greece are graduate students Amanda Huston of Southaven and Christina Henry of Nesbit; seniors Joanna Waller of Oxford, Stacey Holmes of Duck Hill and Katharine Cutrer of Osyka; juniors Morgan Marweg of Tupelo and Nikki Taylor of Sardis; and sophomore Kelley Nance of Byhalia.
For more information about Study Abroad opportunities at Ole Miss, visit http://www.outreach.olemiss.