By Tommy Navackis
(March 17, 2008) Sixteen members of the student organization, Urban Needs In Teacher Education (UNITE), completed a one-week trip to Boston during Spring Break. The student group went to Boston at the encouragement of recent sesquicentennial event speaker, Jonathan Kozol, to examine public education in the Massachusetts community that was the subject of his recent book, Letters to a Young Teacher. Kozol, the group says, was instrumental in putting them in touch with the with education advocacy group, "Education Action!" at Cambridge University.
The students, all future educators, experienced complete immersion into various school settings from pre-kindergarten to high school during their visit. The UNITE students' thirst for knowledge coupled with the superb Boston teachers, principals, and students made for a synergetic learning experience for all. While the teachers and principals they met were amazed with the group's initiative, members agree this trip only foreshadows many more to come in cities such as Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles.
"To me the most important thought in this moment is we now have evidence, affirmation even, that we can and will do anything we put our minds to. We are powerful, fast, mobile, intelligent and dedicated. We will make change everywhere we go. We will empower aspiring teachers. We will inspire other organizations university-wide, state-wide, nation-wide, and someday world-wide," UNITE member Dakota Pawlicki '08, said.
During their trip, UNITE students recorded the week of hands-on teacher candidate preparation through an online blog. For more information on UNITE, including membership opportunities, please contact
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