The SBRHS has just finished the first of what will probably turn into dozens of programs that provide 5th grade students with a unique learning experience. Our goal is to provide students with a living history type of educational experience by bringing the 3751 and some historic private cars to school neighborhoods with appropriate nearby rail sidings for instructional tours. For more pictures of this trip to San Pedro go here!
We have developed excellent lesson plans that are designed to meet state educational standards by including math and science along with instruction in railroad safety as well as the modern and historic relevance of railroads. Students attend these classes in actual historic rolling stock.
The Director of Education for Los Angeles Unified School District K has expressed interest in our program and is working with us to make sure this will be a worthwhile experience for his students. The students get a wonderful chance to experience a piece of history while getting their tickets punched, learning about safety and seeing the way the nation traveled before the age of air travel.
Key educationally minded institutions such as the Los Angeles Harbor Department, the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, the Banning Museum and the railroads have also expressed support for this worthy project. As you can see the students classes are held in fully restored rail equipment from that golden age of rail travel, and get a chance to experience the cab of an actual operating steam locomotive that the Santa Fe had built in 1927 to pull passenger trains at up to100 miles per hour from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The initial Educational Outreach tour reached schools in the Torrance and San Pedro areas of Southern California in October of 2004 - and handled 17 classes of 5th graders, that is over 400 students!
From the Principal of one of those schools -
Mr. Fengler,
As I sit at my desk and review the "thank you" notes students are writing to me for setting up the SBRHS field trip, I can only begin to explain the tremendous impact your group had on their lives. A few students have even indicated that they would like to become future train operators. The teachers have also indicated that it was one of the most organized events they have been to as educators.
On behalf of the Barton Hill Community I would like to extend our sincere gratitude!
Mr. Lou Mardesich
Principal, Barton Hill Elementary School
Even as the kids are touring the train and historic cars we continue to reinforce their safety lessons and compare/contrast the historic equipment with what is happening on modern railroads - there is also a class devoted to modern railroads.
Sponsorship for the logistical expenses for these trips (insurance, fuel, fees, etc.) is being actively pursued from youth and education funding groups as well as private corporations with the goal of providing the tours at no cost to the schools. Here are some of the supporting entities that helped create the very sucsessful Educational Outreach Program -
Gene Wood and Jim & Joyce Brown
SBRHS members and other volunteers in period attire will also help with instruction and tours to achieve a higher level of authenticity, and to truly illustrate the glory of rail travel the way it was until the early 1950's.
Educational Outreach Programs are currently being planned for the San Bernardino and Fullerton areas this year (2005), if you are interested in sponsoring, participating or bringing this extrememly worthy program to your southern California community, please contact Don Black, SBRHS Educational Outreach Program director at 909-336-2603 - or by emailing him at DBlack909@aol.com.
For a copy of the Educational Outreach Overview Brochure in PDF format please click here*.
* This is a large file and will take a moment to download!
