By Michelle Switzer
South Bristol student Sophie Gamage works with volunteer Lyn Rider in the boatshop. (Photo courtesy Maine Maritime Museum) |
Eighth-grade students at South Bristol School have spent their Fridays woodworking and boat-building in the Maine Maritime Museum’s Discovery Boat Building Program in Bath for the past 19 years.
The program was established in the South Bristol School curriculum when Pam Sperry, former principal of South Bristol School, became convinced of the value of experiential learning, according to the South Bristol School website. Sperry then became an advocate to send the eighth-graders to the boat-building program.
Sperry convinced the superintendent, school board, and area community of the benefits of the boat program.
“The students have an opportunity to incorporate the world of work, math, design, and technology,” AOS 93 Superintendent Steven Bailey said. “If it could be reproduced in every school, it would be terrific.”
This boat-building program is funded by the Burns Foundation. Representatives of the foundation and South Bristol residents Betsy Graves and Ann McFarland set up an endowment with the town to keep this unique opportunity alive for the school, according to South Bristol School Principal Scott White.
One of South Bristol School’s newest staff members, special education teacher Amanda Sykes, was in the first class to participate in the program, according to White.
According to White, Sykes remembers working alongside three other boys all year and being treated equally. She helped break down the stereotype that boat-building was for boys only.
The first skiff built was proudly named Amanda Lee in honor of the initial female participant, according to White.
“It was like the pilot year for the program, and they weren’t sure they were going to continue doing it,” Sykes said.
The program was a valuable experience as the school was able to connect what the students were doing in the classroom to everyday experiences, she said.
“The program is now in its 19th year, and has provided students a unique opportunity to apply math and interpersonal skills in a real-life setting,” White said.
After learning woodworking fundamentals, the students develop the confidence to create products – stools, half models of the boats, and toolboxes. The final project is building two 12-foot, flat-bottomed boats.
Kurt Spiridakis is the lead instructor of the boat-building program as well as the boat shop manager. Spiridakis is helped by volunteers who provide one-on-one education with the students.
“I’ve been working in the boat shop and with the South Bristol eighth-graders for eight years,” Spiridakis said.
This year, nine eighth-grade students are participating in the program.
“It’s fun to try something new,” student Rachael Taylor said.
Classmate Chris Burrow agreed. “It’s fun to be able to build a boat. It’s something we made,” Burrow said.
South Bristol School eighth grader Chris Burrow draws a line that has been measured by classmates Jan. 9. Every Friday, for the past 19 years, South Bristol eighth graders have spent their day woodworking and boat building at the Maine Maritime Museum Boatshop in Bath. (Michelle Switzer photo) |
Along with woodworking and boat-building, the students participating in the program are required to submit a journal of safety lessons presented in the boat shop, definitions of new vocabulary, and experiences they found memorable.
Putting students in a hands-on learning environment such as the boat shop challenges the students in ways they never would be challenged in a typical classroom, according to Spiridakis.
The challenges in the boat shop grow the students’ confidence, wisdom, and vocabulary, according to Spiridakis.
“Generally, students become more confident diagnosing and figuring out solutions to problems,” Spiridakis said. “They tend to rely more on themselves in this regard, and less on me and the other adults in the room.”
Graduation from the program takes place in June, when the students launch their boats before the entire student body.
