Education Law

A new buzz in learning: linking children together, one student and one classroom at a time

Continuing in today’s theme of really exceptional kids and classes, BoardBuzz is excited to share this story.  Sure we all know that growing up, children often hear the old adage, “one person can make a difference.”  Yet, as life grows busier and responsibilities compound, making a lasting difference sometimes feels elusive.  Teacher Bill Belsey and  Botswanan educator Tommie Hamaluba are working hard to instill in students the tangible reality that one person can make a difference.

Belsey teaches a grade five class in a rural public school in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of the Canadian community of Springbank, Alberta.  He and his students, self proclaimed as “Canada’s Coolest Class“, have committed to helping prevent malaria by starting their website, Net4Nets.

Net4nets is a collaborative project addressing the issue of malaria education and prevention.  Focused by their work with students in Africa,  namely Botswana, the project aims to prevent malaria through education, awareness, and raising funds to buy mosquito bed nets (currently 71 nets have been purchased).  Belseyand his students raise money through various measures from doing chores to shoveling snow.  Although, it could appear as a meager beginning with only a little moer than $700 raised, the lessons that these students are learning are invaluable.  These students see their impact on the world, understand the power of public health education, and their intercultural exposure is certainly taking the idea of the 21^st Century classroom to a new level.  Belsey notes that it’s “quite common to walk into my classroom and see my students matter-of-factly accept Skype video conference calls from Africa projected onto our Smart Board, with students using Google Earth to plot and track mosquito bed net disbursements in Botswana, all the while calmly continuing with their regular math, language arts, and social studies assignments”. 

The students in Belsey’s class will undoubtedly pursue different career paths and make different life choices, but he has instilled an lasting appreciation for the power of education, the flatness of this world, and the commonalities of cultures.  And perhaps, most importantly, he’s taught them that they can dream, “follow their bliss,” and make a difference in this world.  These efforts are replicable and teachers around the country are doing amazing things with the varied resources they have.  Resources and funding are currently taking a hit in education but creativity and passion can overcome any of those challenges as seen by the impact that these students have had fighting malaria and their eagerness to be involved.  Thank you Bill, Tommie, and, of course, “Canada’s Coolest Class” for reminding BoardBuzz that one person (or one class) really can make a difference and for working hard to do your part!

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on April 28, 2009 (boomark / email).