Mr. Erickson and Ms. Griffin Receive Grant to Travel Overseas This Summer

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April 30, 2010  
Filed under Life at Como, News

This summer, Como Park social studies teachers Mr. Erickson and Ms. Griffin will be traveling overseas to broaden their teaching horizon and gain experience in other cultures that a classroom can’t supply.

Mr. Erickson and Ms. Griffin applied for a grant called the Fund for Teachers earlier this year. The Fund for Teachers grant is provided by Saint Paul Public Schools to bring the world to the classroom by giving teachers the opportunity to travel overseas. Last year 14 teachers in SPPS were chosen to receive this grant and now two of our own have received this unique grant.

Advanced Placement European History teacher Ms. Griffin is choosing to use her grant to travel to Florence and Rome, Italy. From June 12^th to 24^th she will by viewing and learning about Ancient Rome’s architecture and art, as well as the history from the Renaissance and Baroque period.

“I’ve been running into it so much in my teaching that I wanted to see it for myself.”

Mr. Erickson, AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, and U.S. History teacher will be visiting China and its growing economy. Starting August 10^th, Mr. Erickson will fly out to China where he will spend two weeks in places such as, Xian, Beijing, and Shanghai.

Spending three days and nights in the center of economic activity Shanghai, Mr. Erickson will travel to Xian via train where he will be teaching conversational English as part of a volunteer program called Cross Cultural Solutions. Afterwards, he will visit Beijing to see the sights and sounds.

With his experience in China, Mr. Erickson said he will have a better of understanding of the culture and economy, political history with the Cold War, and gain an insight to teaching comparative politics and international trade. While teaching English he will learn the daily challenges students at Como face everyday with the language barrier.

“Being a minority, I’ll be the one struggling with the language; I’ll be the one struggling with the customs.”

Both teachers, Mr. Erickson and Ms. Griffin, will be learning and gaining experience as they spend their time overseas this summer. The classrooms here at Como can be defined by the walls from side to side but the experience across nations can’t be. Next year’s students of the two teachers, will have a great time being able to hear what it’s like in different parts of the world, and maybe gain an interest in study abroad and traveling in their futures.

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