Hull House and Boat Tour
What a great and rainy day. Before I begin, check out this link of David Alan Grier as Maya Angelou.
http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=187055
We began the day at Hull House with our perky guide, Lisa Lee, presenting Jane Addams really for the first time to me. Oh sure I had heard the name several time and in relation to Hull House, but it was extremely fuzzy to me as to what exactly it was. Well, Hull House and what was accomplished is an on-going story as they try to keep the legacy of Addams alive. I certainly came away no expert on Addams but am now familiar with her and the work that went on at Hull House. Of all the things mentioned that morning, I would like to focus on two that struck a chord with me: 1) the use of art by immigrant children, and 2) food justice issues.
Lisa Lee several times pointed out the art that some of the children did at Hull House many years ago, and tied some of the art to particular people who late on went on to success. One came back as an art instructor. Addams felt the immigrants were deprived in many ways and the lack of the arts was one significant deficiency. The arts were seen as a way of expression that transcended the lack of language skills as many did not have a command of English. Lisa Lee pointed out that her parents were from China and were writers and poets, but in America had to use math as a common language to express themselves. Here were these artistic people who worked in occupations utilizing math when they desired to express themselves poetically and artistically. It seems Addams innately knew this and provided a rich art program, and was the first to see play as instrumental to child development. Up till then play was reserved for the rich children. Addams organized the first playgrounds for all kids.
The second area that struck a chord was the issue of food justice. Yes, I like to eat and eat a lot, but a great deal of people ask me what are my favorite foods. Although I love good winter cooking with its soups, braises and stews, I would without hesitation say summer and fall when food is freshly harvested and simply prepared is my absolute favorite type of food. I make several tripos to the farmer’s market and even to the county to buy fresh produce, and I have a vegetarian friend who owns Wireworks who always asks me if I know my farmer. Recently, I have been introduced to our organic shares farm off of Everett Road, and they are trying to do the same things as the farm at Hull House.
I loved the lunch at Hull House. The tour of the farm was interesting and I already knew a good deal about heirloom varieties and have tried some back home. They are definitely “uglier” but much better tasting. I do think locally sourced meat can be a part of this equation as I obtain mostly locally sourced beef and pork products within fifty miles of Pueblo.
I had never heard the term “food desert” before, but it makes sense as I remember a recent new expose showing poor people in the south ruining their teeth on too much Mountain Dew and high obesity rates because of the high sugar and access to only chips and snacks. I noticed walking around that one can only really get chips, ice cream and sodas around our neighborhood where we are staying in Chicago. Are we in a food desert? I like what Hull House is doing on the sustainability of food and the use of Soup Luncheons to drive home their point about great local food and sustainability. Ah, if we all had a new “Victory” garden, a victory over bland food designed only to be shipped long distances, and personal victory over pesticides and chemicals.
The boat ride was wet, but afforded a unique view of Chicago.
Dinner at Carmines was superb!!! Pasta squares a must! Pick the sauce you like, but et the squares made with fresh pasta. All local I am sure, and I know this for a fact.
Art like math is truly a universal language. The playground concept that Addams had was unique. I took a picture of the picture of the Hull House kids at play and may use it in my child labor lesson plan.
I if work in a supposed educational institution, what are we teaching kids about eating? The district gives them food of questionable nutritional value which they are to eat, generally, as quickly as possible. And then, whatever is not used is simply thrown away. There has got to be a better way. I wonder if this system is less about cost constraints than to do what’s easiest.
Excellent point, and by making breakfast a priority at the beginning of the day, what message is this sending kids about the value of education verses eating junk breakfast?
Our school has breakfast in the classroom, the first fifteen to twenty minutes of CLASS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME! None of the food is anything i would give my child for breakfast. High-fat and sugary. Several students who already ate at home eat again. When our board and superintendent are looking for more instructional time, why do we let Nutritional (the term is obviously used loosely) Services dictate the beginning of our day? If we go back to how we used to serve before school, in the cafeteria, we would solve several problems- a) kids wouldn’t eat twice or overeat, b) each room wouldn’t have ants and mice, c) classroom teachers could more efficiently send the message that education is the purpose of the classroom. A meal should be a social time, not a time trying to get math done while consuming less than nutritious food.