Delta Democrat Times article (1/22/2010)

Chicago-bound students raising funds to get there
By BEVERLY FORD
Friday, January 22, 2010 1:06 PM CST
beverlyford@ddtonline.com

GREENVILLE — Students from Solomon Middle School are raising money for a trip to the Windy City.

Greg Claus, Solomon art teacher and trip coordinator said the trip is to enhance student’s perspectives.

“This is not just art students who are going to Chicago,” said Claus. “The students had to apply for the trip, and these are definitely students who show the promise of improving and are working to have the best education they can.”

Claus came up wit the idea for the trip from his own memories of middle schools when his school would trek to Washington, D.C., and from a teacher workshop he participated in last summer.
“Back in class with my students, I learned many of my students had ties to Chicago, but they really weren’t sure why in some cases,” said Claus. “And I’ve also read about the ‘great migration’ of people from the southern states to the northern cities for employment.”

Claus said students have been studying about the more than seven million African Americans who left the social and economic woes of the South behind, beginning more than 80 years ago.

“This was the Great Northern Migration, and many of these people who left the South, settled in Chicago,” said Claus. “And this trip out-of-state will be the first for Solomon Middle School in many years.”

The trip for 20 students is scheduled for the spring break holiday, March 12- 16, and students will travel Amtrak via Greenwood to Chicago.

Claus said students are slated to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier and the Federal Reserve Bank.

“We’ll be staying in the heart of the city, so we’ll be walking or taking public transportation wherever we go,” he said. “The city will be our classroom. And there is a lot of excitement building with the students.”

Claus also said students will take a tour of University of Illinois at Chicago and the Columbia Art College.

“Before we go to Chicago, we’ll be looking at things with the students to look for in a college,” said Claus. “We want them to have all sorts of ideas and be aware of their options when it comes time to choose a college.”

The cost per student for the trip is $403, which includes transportation, hotel and admission to various venues. Claus said they have received group discounts on some activities and that others are free.

Students have been raising money for the trip and have planned additional fundraisers like a Krispy Kreme donut sale.

Claus said individuals in the community have been generous with donations.

“We still need funds to help get these kids to Chicago,” he said. “They’ve worked hard and I’m proud of their efforts.”

Claus is part of the Teach for America program. Several Teach for America teachers set up the Corps Member Education Fund, which Claus said is to help teachers plan and fund out of classroom enrichment experiences.

Donations can be made to CMEF, Solomon’s Great Migration Team, Attn: Greg Claus, 521 S. Washington Ave., Greenville, MS 38701, with checks made payable to CMEF with “Solomon Great Migration” in the memo line.