European Union grant to middle school fosters knowledge-sharing

Why is the European Union "giving" my program, Smith Middle School and our district so much money?

This year's grant is worth 67,000 euros -- equivalent to about $86,000, given the current conversion rate. We were also given this award in 2007, becoming the first U.S. public secondary educational institution to receive such a grant from the European Union.

Why this program?

The fundamental reasons can be found in Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers" and William Hitchcock's "The Struggle for Europe." The European Union funds programs that fit Gladwell's "blueprint for making the most of human potential" by creating enrichment experiences that plant the seeds of innovation and motivation for all participants. Hitchcock asserts that in the past 65 years, one of the major successes in Europe has been that its leaders have been "speaking the language of power sharing rather than power seizing."

As an educator I've learned that a culture of openness leads to a willingness for knowledge-sharing, which in turn, leads to power sharing. That is why I work to bring these learning experiences to not only my students but also to my school, district and community.

In the summer of 2006, the Delegation of the European Commission of Washington released its first call for proposals for the "Getting to Know Europe" grant. While attending an EU workshop, I investigated this opportunity. I wrote a plan describing how I would spend $70,000 while meeting the EU's objectives of helping our school and local communities learn more about the EU. We would explore the EU's policies and institutions, its role on the international stage and its multifaceted relationships with the U.S.

From a teacher's perspective it was an opportunity for education at its best. With the help of my principal and colleagues, I wrote a plan. To my astonishment, it was accepted. The list of grant recipients included institutions such as Cornell, Duquesne, Boston University -- and Smith Middle School. That award funded a large part of our 2007 program.

The summer and fall of 2008 found me once again working furiously to write a new EU grant for 2009. What motivated me were the eyes of the students in my classroom -- those children who saw their cousins, friends, or older classmates travel to Europe in 2007 on a trip fully or partially funded through the grant.

Thirty-six students, six teachers and one UNC TV filmmaker will be traveling to France and Belgium from March 18 to 29. All will benefit from the grant funds in some way, and 23 of those travelers will be partially or fully funded for an experience they otherwise could not afford.

The middle school group will spend three days in Paris and Normandy before going to Belgium to stay with their pen pal families in Liege. We will visit the EU Parliament and EU Commission in Brussels and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Euro as well as the 52nd anniversary of the EU. We will share this learning via a video conference back to Smith on March 25.

We also will focus on North Carolina connections in Europe as we study World War II. Students have already researched and done projects on the D-Day invasion, the liberation of Paris, The Battle of the Bulge, and the French and Belgian resistance movements. Of particular interest has been the role of the African-American soldier in General Patton's 761st all-black Tank Battalion.

The grant funding will also cover school, district and community events such as a Europe Day celebration in May, Euro Zone for Smith's Global Connections events and on-going professional development for teachers.

There is much we, as Americans, can share with our European friends, just as there is a lot we can learn from them. We will witness how small European villages honor the American liberators of World War II, and thereby gain a deeper appreciation for our own grandfathers who fought so valiantly for freedom and justice. My students will share their knowledge of the African-American soldiers' experiences, civil rights in America and the historic election of America's first black president.

As the students walk the peaceful fields of Belgium, gaze at Monet's masterpieces, laugh at their own faux pas or celebrate new international friendships, perhaps they all will become, in some sense, "outliers" -- youngsters motivated "beyond the norm" to create a world where knowledge and power are shared and peace will reign.

A special thanks to the administration of Smith Middle School and to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District for the tremendous support they have shown for this program.

Robin McMahon teaches French at Smith Middle School