I have been fortunate to witness the natural beauty of Alaska’s wildlife, including soaring eagles and snow-capped mountains. While surrounded by glaciers and untouched forests, the greatest miracle of the entire experience was providing a lesson on empathy to four MBU students.
Last summer, I partnered with an organization called Autism on the Seas to accompany ten children with disabilities (and their families) on an Alaskan cruise, taking with me four teacher education students and five experienced volunteer staff members. Throughout the trip, families and fellow curious cruisers commented about how this was such a wonderful opportunity for our MBU students because of their interactions with the children. The most important, impactful lessons these students gained revolved around EMPATHY.
In a traditional field experience, teacher education students have limited interaction with parents. Throughout the cruise opportunity, students were constantly immersed with families that shared stories, hopes, and concerns about their children with special needs as well as their typically-developing siblings. The students witnessed first-hand why a family of a child with a disability may wrestle with daily challenges that others may take for granted. Such challenges include waiting in line, eating at a restaurant, walking through a store, taking public transportation, using a public restroom, engaging in recreational activities, and feeling that other people are staring, judging, or pitying the circumstances.
The MBU students developed a sincere sense of empathy for the families and children. This empathy will shape how they will interact with students, parents, and colleagues when they enter their future teaching setting. Their approach to understanding and listening will be forever-changed because of seven glorious and challenging days cruising to Alaska. The success of this opportunity prompted similar experiences that are offered to our students each summer, including a recent August 2017 voyage in the sunny Caribbean.
By Dr. Rachel Potter, Dean of the College of Education