Curriculum

Mr. Henry Trist and English teacher, Ms. Marisa Paolone ‘96, with members of the freshmen English class.

English Department Incorporates Guest Speakers Into the Curriculum

By: Marisa Paolone ‘96, PHS English Department

Providence’S engliSH dePartment HaS alwaYS Been toP notcH in making our students great writers, in addition to great thinkers. Though the works we study are conducive and applicable to current world issues, people and cultures, we wanted to truly bring in the outside world and give our students the ability to enhance their understanding and the importance of what they read and why; that reading is important, pleasurable, necessary for growth, and pertinent to their world. In September, Ms. Annie Matthews’ ‘93 and my freshmen classes met in person with Mark Huntley Parsons, author of the students’ summer reading novel, Road Rash. As part of their study of the hero’s journey in literature, students generated questions to ask him, related to his experience and the novel; they then presented their group projects on the novel to him. Students learned his purpose as a writer and he let them know the importance of reading and writing in life. They were so excited, as was he, to share their projects and see the author as a real live person, who cares for his audience and what they gained from his work. In October, in continuation with the unit on the hero’s journey, my freshmen students began reading Homer’s Epic, The Odyssey. My students and I held a Skype session with a friend of mine, a former Marine, who fought in the Iraq war. Students created questions to ask him, based on his experiences in battle, surviving explosions and the enemy, making friends, losing friends, PTSD, lack of sleep, and lack of food. Students later took their notes and made connections between the soldier’s experience during and after war, with those of Odysseus. They also learned that PTSD is indeed a reality and that all men at war share common bonds, whether it be in real life or in Mythology.

In November, my freshmen began reading Steinbeck’s classic, Of Mice and Men. Set in northern California in the 1930’s, the novel showcases the hardships of the American farm worker during The Great Depression, while recognizing that friendships among men are crucial, challenging, and also heartbreaking. I was able to have my friend, Mr. Henry Trist, who is 95 years young, come in for a live Q&A session.

Freshmen students showing Mr. Parsons their projects based upon his novel, Road Rash.

For homework, students formulated questions for Mr. Trist, based on his growing up in California during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Questions ranged from ‘what was it like to grow up and not always have food?’, to ‘how do you feel morality in young people has changed?’, ‘what do you miss most about the 20’s and 30’s?’, ‘what advice would you give to young people today?’ and ‘what did you do for entertainment in the 30’s?’ There were many laughs and students were very engaged. Mr. Henry Trist was born in Ohio in 1920 but moved to California at six months old. He attended Rio Vista Elementary school in North Hollywood and North Hollywood High School. He was also a teacher and principal at Village Christian School in Sun Valley for 27 years. He currently takes in old/used computers and installs software for the blind on them and has them distributed to those in need.

I feel that these experiences are so beautiful and vital to our students’ growth and maturation process. It is important for them to see that who and what came before them does affect them and that history is truly all around them, not only in the words they read on a page.

Students were incredibly appreciative of all these experiences. I know that if I had the opportunity to meet with my favorite authors, I’d be ecstatic! Sadly, the majority of my favorite authors are no longer with us.

My dream is to have my favorite modern author, Sue Monk Kidd, come in and speak with the Honors Freshmen, during our study of her novel, The Secret Life of Bees. This is in process.

Road Rash autHor, mark HuntleY ParSonS gave a PreSentation to the freshmen about writing, music, and following one’s passion. He also treated them to a demonstration of the musical instrument, the cajon. After his presentation, students had the unique opportunity to interact personally with him as they shared a variety of creative group projects that they worked hard to develop over the weeks leading up to his visit. We are so grateful to Mr. Parsons for sharing his time and talent with us, and so proud of our freshmen for impressing him with their projects and Pioneer spirit!