More Than Just Fun
If you have ever had an indepth conversation with a music teacher like me, specifically about the view of the classroom from the outside - you might know that music teachers especially look down on the view that “Our classes are meant to be fun”
Of course our classes are and should be fun - but that is far beyond the point of what we teach. We would ensure that you were thoroughly educated on the finer points of music education as an academic discipline… not just fun.
The same should be said for travel - and I would like to introduce you to some of the more scholarly work in this area. Everyone loves a vacation, and that is possibly one hurdle you will have to jump (and be sure you clear) when selling a travel idea to a school board or an administrator. But there is some incredible research on travel benefits for you and for your students, beyond the experiences talked about here. I have a whole file on my computer filled with travel studies, reports, and predictions… but for the sake of not creating a 2 hour long podcast episode - i’ve kept my sources and my points to my favorite. The Yale Tribune article “The Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of International Travel” really grasps many of them that I like to taut.
- The first idea is that of the consequences of traveling itself. Our environment. Exposing the human body to completely new environments creates antibodies that build up our immune system. We are exposed to millions of micro-organisms that we are not normally around… and studies show that actually exposing ourselves to minor illnesses foreign to us are quite beneficial. Further, we should look at some historical figures. 200 years ago, 300 years ago - humans were a little more worldly… pun intended. Today we live in pristine, sterilized, mostly-germ-free environments compared to the people of previous centuries. Our travel to new locations actually assists us in staying healthier.
- Adam Galinsky, a Columbia Business School professor who has authored several studies investigating the connection between international travel and creativity says, “Foreign experiences increase both cognitive flexibility and depth and integrativeness of thought, the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms.” However, travelling alone, without being purposeful about engaging, isn’t enough. “The key, critical process is multicultural engagement, immersion and adaptation,” he explains further, “Someone who lives abroad and doesn’t engage with the local culture will likely get less of a creative boost than someone who travels abroad and really engages in the local environment.” The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology clearly states that people who travel abroad are more open, emotionally stable, culturally aware, and experience an increase in cognitive flexibility.
While people tend to avoid the subject in our society, depression is unfortunately a major problem. Millions of Americans struggle with depression on a regular basis and it’s not uncommon for doctors to overprescribe medication for depression.
Luckily, healthier alternatives are available for escaping the hopelessness of a depressed state. According to research, travel may be one of them.
A study from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin found that women who vacation at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression and chronic stress than women who vacation less than once every two years.
Students in our high school are, year after year… showing an increased level of trauma, stress, and anxiety. What a way to chip away!
The hardest part of this first step is to take it. If you are new to this - I am going to take you through some of the first steps you will want to take
- School district/school policies:
- What is and isn’t allowed
- Whether or not to get around them
- What Subject Do You Teach - What country/location seems most relevant?
- Good reputation/relationship with parents and students you can ask
- Performing Arts booster parents have a good idea of this as well
- Booster clubs and PTA
- What Kind of Trip?
- Tour
- Festival
- Event
- Specific Site
- Give Lots of Examples
- Theatre
- Music
- History
- Government
- Art
- Language Arts
- Timeline - When can or should you go?
- I would give your domestic trips well over a year
- Give your international trips at minimum a year and a half… if not 2
- I did not do this because I took over a small but growing program and want to get parents and students accustomed to expecting a trip every two years
- What time of year can you go?
- School policy
- Spring Break
- Cost
- Freedom
- Summer
- Cost
- During School?
- Who Will Take You There?
- Gigantic number of options when looking at school tours
- Many are specialty companies - others not at all
- Ed Discovery Tours (All)
- Bob Rogers (Most)
- Tour Resource Consultants (mostly Music but has Liesure)
- Tons of boutique Agencies
- Guardian Music and Group Travel in Iceland
- You have a LOT of options
- Make sure to shop around
- Get as many tour proposals as you can
- Have 3-5 destinations in mind and let them send you samples
- Make SURE that they are willing to accomodate you - if they don’t someone will
- What is important to you?
- Sites
- Activities
- Enrichment
- Cultural exchanges
- How are you going to pay?
- Student pay
- Fundraising
- You go free
- Do you need additional free spots
- Ask the company: Direct or school/outside budget
- Green River Example
- Direct out of pocket?
- Small groups - language classes happen
- Prepare and Present Proposal
- School District Protocol
- Announce, Advertise, Parent Meeting
- Funnest part for you!
- Set a night that you KNOW is free
- Bring up the hype in classes, school announcements, and through advertising
- Build a presentation WITH pictures
- Check with your tour company - some of them will send a representative - I always wave this!
- Fundraising (optional)
- What is unique and new?
- Are you in or out of the school district?
- Example: We are holding a benefit golf tournament this summer
- Example: We also increased our price by $50 per person and sent someone free!
The Reasons to Stay are Reasons to Go
If you are an educator or administrator who has, up until this point, never explored or encouraged international travel… you may be saying: “Jake… those trips are great for areas with high socio-economic levels” or “It’s easy to plan a tour when you know where you want to go and what you want to do”. In both of those instances you might be correct… but if there is one thing I’ve learned along the way… it’s that “The Reasons to Stay are the Reasons to Go”.
