Birmingham youngsters get the Edge with America trip

Oct 27 2008 Submitted by Carl Smith

A GROUP of lucky teenagers from Birmingham got the chance of a lifetime when they were whisked off to Chicago to sample American High Schools.

The students in question were all from schools in the Edge partnership, a collegiate of secondary and special schools from the south west area of Birmingham.

The Edge have established international links all over the globe and hosted visits from American students in 2007 and 2008.

When the opportunity to send students to their sister schools in Chicago arose it was too good to miss.

So fourteen students, two from each of the seven secondary schools, and two staff made the trip over. The students were all members of the Edge School Student Council.

Whilst there they sampled lessons and activities in one Elementary and three High schools.

As part of the trip they shared with their American counterparts their experiences in Birmingham schools and also the role that Student Councils play in the organisation and running of British schools, something that the Americans are only just beginning to pick up on.

The American hosts treated their visitors like VIPs and showered them with High school style clothing and gifts.

Whilst in the city the British students watched a Chicago White Sox baseball game, a High school (American) football game and made visits to the Adler Planetarium, Brookfield Zoo, Navy Pier and made the ascent to the one hundred and third floor of the Sears Tower!

The American hosts were impressed with their visitors and whilst there plans were laid for the Edge to host more American students next year.

Ken Hunter, Principal of Charles Prosser High School, Chicago said: "We are constantly looking for ways to extend the world of our students. Allowing them to meet and mingle with their British counterparts makes this happen in ways that cannot be imagined.

"Whilst they have been here we have watched the British boys and girls and our American students grow in stature and confidence."

Mrs Sara Brehony, chairman of the Edge steering group, said: "I am pleased that this first visit has been such a success and we are hopeful that we can make this a regular event.

"All the students and staff returned to the UK tired but full of enthusiasm for this initiative and are looking forward to sharing their experiences of the trip with their schoolmates."