Ellis Island Re-Creation Gives Kids A Taste Of Immigration Experience

Dan Bible and Rick Hrycenko were, shall we say, creative in their roles as doctors at Ellis Island.

The Centennial Middle School teachers gestured at the befuddled immigrants - actually 240 eighth-graders. They used strange grunts and foreign phrases. They wrote arcane abbreviations on the kids’ immigration documents, including the codes that were used at the historical New York City entry-way to the United States: H for heart, K for hernia, L for lameness and X for suspected mental illness.

“Screetch, screetch,” instructed Hrycenko, in a vaguely European accent. He mimicked scratching above his own scalp.

Bible spotted an imaginary louse, plucked it from a student’s shoulder, threw it down and stamped on it. SC, for scalp, he marked on the immigrant’s tag.

Next, Bible had his subjects sit on the gymnasium floor. “Hunh! Hunh! HUNH!” he said, waving his arms and bouncing. He waited. Nothing. He tried again. “Hunh! Hunh! HUNH!”

When the student finally imitated him, out flashed Bible’s stethoscope. And in a moment, the exam was done.

“Das,” he said in a baleful tone, pointing the student toward the next line.

Monday morning’s Ellis Island re-creation was the start of a three-week study of immigration for the West Valley eighth-graders. The unit combines history, English and science. The students will learn immigration laws, the history of the major migrations to the United States, and the basic foundation of government. They’ll do projects that may include interviewing an actual immigrant, writing about freedom or recreating the Statue of Liberty. Finally, they’ll be sworn in as new citizens of our country.

But back to Day One. The morning was full of unexpected realities. First thing, the eighth graders were herded into the commons area. They were held there, with books, tennis rackets and increasingly full bladders. Each was assigned an imaginary ship. KFC8-4 was the name of one ship. No, not Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s Korff, Flanagan, Compton, eighth grade, fourth period.

The commons grew hot. The line moved slowly. Lunch hour grew near, and the immigrants grew hungry.

Each student was given an immigrant’s name and a bit of history. Some used an ancestor from their family tree. Scott Martin, aka Giuseppi Bonelli, wondered, “Can I be a doctor? Can I be a shoemaker?”

A roll of the dice determined if each student was entering as a wealthy immigrant or a poor one.

“I’m rich. I rolled a six,” said Jason Cooley, a Scottish bagpipe maker. But it helped him little on Ellis Island. He was sent repeatedly, mysteriously, by inspectors to sit at a table in the midst of the gym.

By the end of the morning, doctors Bible and Hrycenko were testing their subjects in groups of a dozen. The inspectors’ feigned curtness was becoming less feigned. Cooley had joined the other hungry kids at lunch.

And teacher Cathy Comar, who brainstormed the whole thing, was already planning ways to improve next year’s Ellis Island exercise.

Spotlight on Education

East Valley School District spread the honors around last week at its annual banquet.

Teachers honored were: Julie Seipp, East Valley High School; Bruce Preuninger, Dave Smith, Pam Smith, Patty Markofski and Ted Farr, all of Mountain View Middle School; Charlene Bieber and Pat Utgaard at Otis Orchards Elementary; and Carla Bagby, Skyview Elementary.

Classified employees who were honored included: Rod Holmes and Shirley Olson, East Valley High School; Annette Porter, East Valley Middle School; Francie Neal, Mountain View Middle School; Marlene Stookey, Otis Orchards; Dorene Harter, Skyview Elementary; Rich Bedal, Transportation; Brian Weiler and Ilene Benninger, Trent Elementary.

Kiwanis scholarships

The Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club has given four scholarships to high school seniors. The scholarships, which emphasize community service, go to: Amber Sine, $1,500; Anna Bersagel, $1,000; Tara Roberts, $1,000; and Sara Hamilton, $500.

Talking about four-period day

Central Valley School Board is holding a special meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Central Valley High School. The meeting will be a public hearing for comment on the proposal to switch the high school schedules to a four-period day, trimester system.

Board chairman Cynthia McMullen said she hopes a broad cross-section of residents in the district will comment on the issue.

Doing DECA right

West Valley High School student David McIvor came home from national DECA competition in Orlando, Fla., last month with a second place in business and financial services marketing research.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.