The GlobalLink American South intensive trip to Alabama was canceled due to the widespread omicron variant.
“Looking at a lot of different things like transmissions here, transmission rates in Alabama, looking at the local health infrastructure,” GlobalLink American South teacher Kate Williams said. “Being considerate of our partners in Alabama and bringing COVID to them, potentially and what would the consequences be of that? Were some of the things that factored into our decision.”
Even though the Alabama trip was canceled, Jacob Gendelman is still keen on learning about Seattle’s history with segregation.
“I just wanted to learn more about black history and I also wanted to learn more about Seattle’s history with slavery and segregation,” seventh grader Jacob Gendelman said. “Before this I thought Seattle is in the north so there isn’t any segregation, and I thought the trip to Alabama was going to be really fun.”
Because the Alabama trip was canceled, some students say they would switch their intensives if they had the chance.
“Yes, I would probably change it to project science. Because I was kind of debating between these two intensives to begin with,” seventh grader Liam Pryor said.
Another student who would switch his intensive is Jacob Gendelman.
“I really wanted to see Alabama and what it was like and what museum’s were there,” Gendelman said.
The cancellation of the Alabama trip has led to a more Seattle based program. This is one of the aspects of the intensive that has had a positive response from some students. Field trips are a more hands-on approach to learning which provides more variety and activity.
“Yeah, probably. That’s less of a lecture and more hands on. I have no problem grasping a lecture but all day, like the entire school day in the same class. That’s kind of a lot,” Pryor said.
Seventh grader Jack Eyler concurs with Pryor.
“It really depends on the field trip,” seventh grader Jack Eyler said. “For the last one we did I would rather do in school learning, but if we went to a museum I would rather go there.”
Although students are enjoying field trips, a lot of them are getting cancelled.The reason for these field trips being canceled is because covid cases and exposures are very common here in Washington State also as well as Alabama.
“Because COVID is not unique to Alabama. It’s impacting our lives here in Seattle as well and several of our guest speakers have had to cancel because of COVID exposures and things like that have thrown some wrenches into our Seattle plans as well,” Williams said.
Overall, Williams said the GlobalLink American South students have been very understanding of the situation they are in.
“I’m really proud of our community for making it through a tough time together and appreciative of my colleagues and students who are flexible and kind and understanding through all this,” Williams said.