CCHS English teacher, Reed Paige, has started to teach classes at Walden Pond. Teaching outside spiked in popularity after it was announced that students and staff no longer have to wear masks while outdoors. However, most teachers book one of the tents that serve as outdoor classrooms.
Paige, after finding himself unable to book a tent before other teachers, decided to take matters into his own hands and have his students learn at Walden Pond. Though most of the class block is used up just by the walk to and from school to the pond, Paige believes that it is worth it. He adds, “it is especially helpful now that my students are reading Civil Disobedience!”
Many of his students also enjoy the mini trip. Some even bring their bathing suits to take a dip in the pond. When asked what her favorite part of class is, a student of Paige’s said, “I definitely love swimming with my friends. It’s always so sunny and warm when we go out. And, of course, reading the works of Thoreau.”
While this idea seems like a paradise or haven for stressed-out students, there is still one concern that remains. How much learning is actually happening? Another pupil of Paige’s expressed shock that they were reading Civil Disobedience. “Really?” He said, “I thought we were still working on Shakespeare.”
On the other hand, there is a bit of concern from frequent Walden Pond visitor, Marjorie Jones. “While most of the kids seem on their best behavior, they have been quite loud and I’ve been noticing that several copies of Civil Disobedience seem to be left behind.”
Paige addresses these complaints with certainty. “I believe that Henry David Thoreau would fully appreciate the way in which we are studying his works. What better way to understand his message than to spend time in his neck of the woods.”
As Paige’s students play Marco Polo in the water and fan themselves with their copies of civil disobedience, there is no doubt that they are completely absorbing Thoreau’s way of living. Perhaps he would approve of this new, creative method of teaching. Although, this may not have been the solution Thoreau was searching for when he stated that education “makes a straight cut ditch out of a meandering brook.”
