Part Two: GOPA Steam Students visit local historical and cultural sites

(See Part One for more details of this field trip)

After lunch, GOPA STEAM students students observed an important dedication ceremony at the Paterson Museum attended by two members of Congress representing New Jersey.  Students learned how the efforts of Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. and Sen. Bob Menendez prevailed in Washington earlier in the year, making Hinchcliffe Stadium, one of the last remaining stadiums where Negro baseball was played, a part of the National Park system.

 

To Senator Menendez and Representive Pascrell Hinchliffe Stadium is the symbol of a dark time in American history and needs to be preserved.  

"I believe strongly that the story of our fight
against institutionalized segregation is a
story worth telling," Menendez said. "When
I look at Hinchliffe Stadium, I see a field of
dreams. . . an enduring reminder of how far we've come since the days of separate but equal, when institutional segregation marginalized the work, dreams, and achievements of African-Americans.  Protecting the history of urban communities Pascrell said, "is just as important as protecting our wilderness and natural wonders out West."


After the ceremony, STEAM students were led on a tour of the Paterson Museum exhibits by Mr. Robert Veronelli, and engaged with a wide variety of historical artifacts including textile making machines, native architecture, locomotive manufacturing parts, early submarines and airplanes, pharmaceuticals, models of factories and much more.




Students were enthralled to imagine their city in a historical light and as well as an imaginative one. They came to understand their city of Paterson was once a place of great creativity as well as inventions.  In addition they saw Paterson's unique and inspiring role in the development of our early American history.


This field trip was a perfect segue to their own STEAM project in the classroom utilizing the five subjects of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in synergy and leaving Mr. Jones' class with plenty to talk about when it comes to improving today's Paterson based on the perspective they have now gained.