Flex Days give the students of Raleigh Charter chances to have a unique and interactive learning experience on and off campus. This year, the juniors took a trip to Stagville State Historic Site located in Durham, N.C.
This specific activity correlates with their current in-class learning about early America. They were able to walk through a historical plantation and see a glimpse of the difference in the lifestyle between the enslavers and the enslaved firsthand.
The juniors were able to tour the enslavers’ home, see the remnants of where the enslaved lived, and see the arduous work of the enslaved people. Walking through all the different parts of the plantation allowed the students to see a clear difference in how status and treatment between the two social classes affected daily life.
Surprisingly, the enslavers’ home is still standing and in good condition given the fact that it was built from 1789 to 1799, while there were only remnants of the stone foundation of the quarters where the enslaved lived.
They were also able to walk into a large barn on the property, which was built by the enslaved. This showed us how enslaved people had valuable skills, yet were seen as objects rather than humans,who were never credited for their hard work.
The juniors also read and interpreted primary documents to get a deeper understanding of what society was like and how people felt during that time. This activity allowed the students to be hands-on by working on the documents, while also working together to interpret what happened back then.
“I feel like I was able to gain a better understanding of slavery and how America was back then from this experience. Throughout the tour, I was in shock and felt so much sympathy because their life was so unfair and hard,” said junior Vedan Malik.
Historical Interpreter Mary Kate Mauney talked about the importance of history. She explained how an important part of history is to talk about it and share it because people need to know about the past to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Mauney commented, “A lot of what we talk about has an impact on our world today, and by learning about history, we can contextualize why the world is why it is today.”
Flex days give the students of Raleigh Charter opportunities to have a more interactive learning experience, which allows them to understand topics more in-depth. This gives the students the chance to learn outside of the everyday classroom environment and become more aware of the world around them.
