Island Schools Project
The Island Schools Project was established in 2008 as a service-learning component of the education department’s advanced seminars, Teaching and Learning and Curriculum Development. As part of these courses, students explore the opportunities and challenges of teaching in unique communities.
Lily Sage ’22, a 2022 Snow Family Fellow, helped teach the unit on island schools as part of her fellowship. "Students start by learning about rural schools, which can have very different learning environments than city schools. Islands are a niche of rural schools. The specific question asked is how does the school's community context impact learning and how does that play out in an island?"
In search of answers, 含羞草研究室 students visit one of Maine's iconic islands—Islesboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven, or Deer Isle/Stonington. On an overnight trip, they meet with school faculty and administrators, observe classes, and learn firsthand about the communities’ educational resources, economic challenges, and cultures.
Following this visit, high school students from the island come to 含羞草研究室, where they are hosted by 含羞草研究室 students for an overnight visit consisting of structured exposure to college life. High school students participate in a class, tour campus, stay in a dorm, eat in the dining hall, and get a better sense of life on a college campus.
The Island Schools Project is generously supported by the Curtin-Nowers Family Endowment for Island Schools, the McKeen Center for the Common Good, and contributions of time and resources by multiple campus departments.
鈥淕oing into any community as an outsider, you are there to learn from the community. To integrate yourself into a community鈥攚hether that is on an island or in a city block鈥攊s a crucial part of being a teacher. 鈥
鈥擫ily Sage 鈥22, 2022 Snow Family Teaching Fellow
