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During today’s class, we walked around the Bethlehem Steel at the Steel Stacks Pavilion. Before I went on this walk today, I already had some knowledge about how the Steel shaped the history of Bethlehem. When we began our walk through the Steel Stacks, I was think about growing up on the Southside of Bethlehem….

I often drove past the remnants of the Steel on ride way to school every day. I distinctly remember the day that they began tearing down parts of the historic monument. I remember being angry about them ripping it down as a little 5th grader and calling one of my friends from school on our landline phone to rant about it. Honestly, I forget why I was so angry. I guess I just remembered my Nana talking about the Steel when I was going through elementary school, and I thought it was cool that her second husband had worked there for an extended period of time. After that, I didn’t give the Steel much thought until the casino and outlet mall was built. I noticed a lot of Asian people outside of the casino and mall, and was confused as to why so many people were traveling to the little town of Bethlehem to come shop and gamble.

Now that I’m older, I’m able to appreciate how the casino and outlets have become an economic asset to Bethlehem. Just this past week, I read an article about how the mayor of Bethlehem was angry that Donald Trump claimed to have revitalized Bethlehem’s economy, which was strengthened by the building of the Steel Stacks. You can read the article using the following link: https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/04/president-trump-just-took-credit-for-revitalizing-bethlehem-bethlehems-mayor-begs-to-differ.html

Going on this field trip as a part of my education class made me reflect on my own life experience. When I was a kid, I always thought that the Steel was a bit of an eye sore. However, after getting to take a closer look at it, I have been able to appreciate its beautiful history as well as its value in the community

As we continued walking through the Steel Stacks, I also thought about how I could take my future students on field trips like this one day. In addition to just looking at the Steel monument, there is also a PBS station there. If I teach a journalism class one day, I could take my students to PBS to listen to news broadcasters discuss their experience in the field of journalism. However, this is only one example. There are so many other ways that I could incorporate a trip like this into my curriculum. If the students are writing an essay about their identify, we could take a trip to the Steel Stacks so they can consider how the steel shaped the history of Bethlehem, which caused their families to decide to live here. Incorporating assignments like this that connect to place and space changes my perception of teaching and learning as a future teacher, because it shows me that teaching and learning is not only found in a textbook. It can be found in the space around you.

While walking around the Steel Stacks, I found myself brainstorming on how I could incorporate this historic site of the Lehigh Valley into my future curriculum. What a great opportunity for the students to have this historic site right in their backyard. The subject I finally decided to focus on was succession. Being a science educator, I think it is very important for students to not only be able to relate science material to important aspects of their daily lives such as local places, but also get hands on experience. The Steel Stacks site would be a great place for this. If I was going to incorporate the Steel Stacks into a succession lesson, I would make this a field trip. In the classroom, I would have my students learn about succession and then wrap up the unit by having the students take a field trip to the Steel Stacks and complete a final assessment. That final assessment would be to research the Steel Stacks and what it looked like while it was still in use and then compare that to what it looks like today. While I was at the Steelstacks, I pretended  I was one of my students and took pictures like I was assigned this project. Below are some pictures I used for brainstorming this lesson.

 

As I strolled through the Steel Stacks site, formerly the site of Bethlehem Steel, I noted my senses were being bombarded by information.  I saw the myriad of buildings and how each performed its own important duties on the way to producing steel.  I could actually smell ashes and the musty smell of decaying matter.  I touched some of the old girders and boilers, noting how some had weathered over the years quite well, while others displayed significant disintegration.  I heard the clanging of loose metal which had worked its way loose from its formerly sturdy moorings.

As an educator, I realized that my walking tour was more significant than a casual stroll.   The experience re-emphasized that simply reading about historical sites was nowhere near as effective a learning tool as actually seeing the site.  I felt like I was actually walking through history.  This was far more effective than the simple rote memorization of facts.  I could actually visualize in my mind, the steel workers performing their various duties in the heat and stench that must have been part of the steel making process.  I could envision busy streets with large trucks hauling ore and finished steel, as well as the administration building where executives and salespeople negotiated pricing and transport of materials to customers all over the world!  It was at this point, that I read a board on the walkway, “This job was one of the hardest jobs in the world.”  I saw many similarities to the profession of teaching.  Personally, I think being “a teacher” is one of the hardest jobs in the world.  You must deal with an incredibly diverse group of learners, all with differing abilities and skill sets.  As the teacher, your job is to develop a curriculum in which you can address each and every one of their academic needs.  I found other similarities in that, every student can contribute, just as the myriad of buildings, to the final end product – learning and the betterment of society as well as individuals – this is our product in education!  Many outside factors impact learning within the classroom (finances, health, family dynamics).  Extrinsic factors also affected Bethlehem Steel (economy, foreign competition).  These outside factors have a tremendous impact on the final product!

One former worker of the Steel Stacks, Guillermo Lopez, said, “I remember the first day I was on the job and I was like ‘Oh my god, this is hell!’”  There are some days when you may feel this way as a teacher as well.  Maybe your lessons weren’t fully prepared, maybe you didn’t have the best of days connecting with your students, maybe the technology failed that day, or maybe you just have to get used to a new class or job setting.  

Although Bethlehem Steel was once a mighty titan of the steel-making industry, it ultimately entered bankruptcy, a fact met with astonishment by many around the globe.  I believe this was due in large part to their lack of understanding of the changing world steel market and the competitive marketplace.  As educators, we must be flexible and ready to respond with curriculum answers to a changing society’s problems and needs.  Our society is constantly evolving, new problems arise, and our students must be equipped to meet the challenging needs of our society and the world.  They must be prepared as critical thinkers, analyzers, and solution makers for the needs of our society and global neighbors.  We cannot allow our educational system and curriculum to “rust out” and fall into disrepair as did this once mighty behemoth of industry.

I also noticed as I was walking around the Steel Stacks, that every structure was different in its own way, which got me to reflect upon classroom teaching.  As there were many different structures, I realized that in the classroom, each student has a different style/structure to how they think and learn best.  Each one of them has different abilities that help to bring out diversity of background and unique thoughts.  Based upon the overall structure of how the Steel Stacks were made and operated, there were a lot of great and different minds that helped contribute to the final product of the structure.  This is also true of the classroom.  Each and every year, a different model/product is produced based upon your students’ abilities and skills.  Also, not one structure (or student) is going to be exactly the same.  That’s what the Bethlehem Steel Stacks represents.  Through its design, not one structure is the same, which helps to display the diversity of the entire enterprise.  Each part has a certain characteristic/ability, and in order for the structure at the time to work/function properly, it needs that part to operate a certain way.  Just like students in the classroom, each one operates a certain way, and in order for them to be successful, you have to incorporate aspects throughout your lessons that highlight many different operations, in order for the class to function properly.  I have found that part of the art of teaching is to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

My experience at Steel Stacks will be incorporated into my teachings.  I want to understand why each student wants to learn about science.  Specifically, Why are you in this classroom?  What do you want to get out of it?  By implementing this approach, I can work with each of the students to discover their goals.  I can then develop curriculum and utilize appropriate teaching techniques to address their individual learning needs.  My belief is that all students have significant potential and have the ability to meaningfully contribute to the classroom and to society.  I will strive to uncover their talent, and have them develop it within the classroom.

By having the curriculum incorporate a connection between place and space, teacher and students will be afforded a far richer learning environment than can be provided only through the reading of textbooks.  It promotes critical thinking and interaction, as well as the exchange of ideas.  I believe fields trips, interactive learning, and hands-on learning provide a greater opportunity for effective learning.

Importantly, once a curriculum has been devised and implemented, we must find an accurate way to measure true learning.  Rote memorization of facts is no longer effective nor necessary, we must find a way to measure critical thinking, analysis, understanding, and the ability to use concepts to solve new problems.  Victor Kiam said, “There are only two ways to move in life; you’re either moving forward or you are moving backward, there is no such thing as standing still.”  Educators must never remain stagnant, they must always be learning and searching for new ways to have our students learn in the most effective ways possible, in an ever-changing world filled with new societal needs and problems.  You as the teacher are the ones who leave a legacy on your students, and one quote mentioned that, “The steel company is gone, but those structures are still there to be enjoyed by millions and millions of people every day.  That legacy will not be so easily erased” (Lynn Beedle, Bethlehem Engineer).  Even though one day I will die, I hope that my legacy on my future students won’t be so easily erased, as well as the legacy of other teachers throughout the United States.  Our students will be the people to solve those needs and it is my mission as a teacher to be certain they are qualified, prepared, and eager to take on and solve those problems!

After walking around the Steelstacks with my peers I envisioned a lot of great ways to use walking as a method for inquiry. While the Steelstacks may seem like a history based location there was a lot to see that was very scientific. One thing I thought of while walking around was the fact that there was a decent amount of vegetation. While there were many gardens making up the area, there were many vines and plants growing throughout the rusted up complex. An assignment I thought would be interesting is how is that possible? How is it possible among all of the rusty metal that green leaves were sprouting and the grass was growing? Another assignment I could have given was comparing the old to the new. We see these large steel buildings and then we can look right across the way and observe the beautiful new Artsquest. I would give my students the task of comparing the two structures based on what they look like, what they are used for, how old they are etc. By doing all of this out in the field students will gain a better understanding through actually seeing these buildings then they would researching them on a computer.

Aside from the Steelstacks, there are plenty of other places in the Lehigh Valley where walking around exploring an area would be a great benefit to a class. The one place I began to think about was Jacobsburg state park. In fact, when I took environmental science at Moravian my freshmen year we walked around Jacobsburg with my professor. It was such a cool experience to view the ecosystems and landscapes that were located in the park. In the Lehigh Valley, some schools can be located in a very city like areas where some students do not have the ability to walk around in a forest. Giving those types of students a chance to go out and explore can be an eye-opening. It gives them the ability to see different ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them that they may not have understood but just sitting down and reading a book. There are many ways students can utilize walking as a method of learning. However, it does not need to stop in the Lehigh Valley. There are many places all over the country where this method can be used and it is up to the teachers to show their students all that is out there.

Throughout my time at Moravian College, we have frequently talked about the origins of Bethlehem and its connection to the early Moravians. President Grisby likes to mention the first Moravians who found the college and their progressive stances for the 18th century, however, the history of Bethlehem often ends with the Revolutionary War. However, we often neglect to talk about the impact of Bethlehem Steel and the industry that developed in the area beginning in the 1800s. Before that time, Bethlehem was mostly known as the place where Moravians lived in a secluded community away from the world. However, the steel industry revitalized the area and helped to create the city that we live and teach in today.

Walking through the SteelStacks reminded me of how important the steel industry was, as well as speculating as to what it would be like for both my students and I had we walked along this path when the steel was at its peak. At one time, Bethlehem Steel was one of the most prolific and powerful companies within the United States. The effort of the steel mill and its promise to build a ship a day helped us to win World War II. If I asked my students, most of them would have some sort of connection to the steel trade. Many of them would have a member of their family or of a family who is close to theirs who was benefitted from what Bethlehem Steel had to offer to its employees.

As a history major, I have learned about industrialization and why it was a game changer in our history, however, walking through the upper walkway it is difficult to imagine Bethlehem Steel in its glory. All of the machines have rust on them, even though many of them had been lovingly cared for during their time in operation. All of the machines that I saw were rusted and it was obvious that they had been left abandoned after Bethlehem Steel closed. In my own hometown, it reminded me of the abandoned steel mills that were also owned by Bethlehem Steel that were abandoned. These buildings help to reveal some of the histories of the people who would have spent their lives working in these factories. While walking through this place, one of my classmates also commented that this must have been miserable to work in buildings like this with engines. However, in listening to oral histories for other classes, I know that some of the people who worked in factories such as these were extremely proud of what they were doing.

The history of Bethlehem Steel begins in the 1840s although the company that is commonly known as Bethlehem Steel really begins in the early 1900s. It was a part of industrialization and the industrial revolution that completely changed the world around people. As a result of factories, goods became less expensive and the country was able to get rich.

Additionally, we were able to create taller buildings thanks in part to steel becoming more reliable. Train tracks made of steel were longer lasting and more secure. In addition, the use of steel allowed for taller buildings that were safe. Many of the tallest buildings in the world during the early 1900s contained steel that was created by Bethlehem Steel. One example of this is the Chrysler Building that was built with steel from Bethlehem as well as containing an elevator that signified the rapid increase in technology that you begin to see during this time period.

 

However, what museums about industrial places often struggle with is figuring out the line between the great increases in production and invention that happen in this time period while also not neglecting to mention the great struggles that labor unions had in order to make sure that people were protected. In general, I have noticed that students do not understand the problems that led to labor unions striking and protesting for basic rights.

One of the images that stands out to me when I think about this time period and the fights that were happening is the image above (from the National Industry Museum that is located in one of the buildings that were owned by Bethlehem Steel). Many of my students at Liberty High School would most likely not have made it to ninth grade and instead would have dropped out in order to support their families. The photograph stands out because so many of my students complain that school is a chore or that they do not like school (in many cases for understandable reasons) but do not realize that their grandfathers and great grandfathers might have fought and participated in strikes for the opportunity to graduate high school.

Walking around the SteelStacks, although I am reminded of the important place that the steel industry played in our country’s history as well as in the history of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. One of the questions that I can’t help but think about is what caused Bethlehem Steel to end? Why doesn’t this continue? However, looking around it is really obvious that the Southside of Bethlehem does not have the economic powerhouse that helped Bethlehem to prosper in the years before. When you walk around, it is easy to see the ghosts of Bethlehem Steel and how the community has changed as a result of deindustrialization. The Bethlehem Steel Company closed in 1995 when the steel company was no longer able to afford to continue the business. This led to changes in the community that can match the SteelStacks. Much of the infrastructure at the SteelStacks was rusted and it was obvious that there was a history behind what had happened after the SteelStacks had ended.

However, much like the sign on the right that talks about the growth of plants that have made the SteelStacks their home. As a result, something new is coming up through the rusted, old history of Bethlehem Steel. Although the buildings will never make steel again, they have become a new habitat for weedy plants that are resilient and can grow strongly despite the abandoned buildings that now inhabit the area. Additionally, these new plants that are able to grow in this kind of soil are better equipped to grow in a place where it does not look like nature should be able to thrive. In many ways, this is like my students who all come into a classroom with their own abandoned buildings in their past. However, with some nurturing, the students are able to grow weeds and have started to grow even larger.

Looking around the SteelStacks today, it is easy to see how things have changed since Bethlehem Steel ended production of steel in the 1990s. Although the old buildings are still there and carry the legacy of industrialization with them, there has been changes and growth throughout the areas where millions of people had been employed throughout the Valley as well as the world. On the campus that had contained the Steel trade, there is now a PBS station, Arts Quest, a casino, as well as a museum that has been dedicated to keeping the legacy of Bethlehem Steel alive. In addition, the Southside of Bethlehem maintains the diversity of immigrants who settled in the Lehigh Valley. As I walked through the SteelStacks, I can hear a variety of languages being spoken. Underneath the stairs, a group of old people is doing a dancing workout and small groups of people having conversations. As a result, while the history of the place is important and it is a good reminder of the success, struggles, and failures of Bethlehem Steel, it is also important to consider the future and what is coming next.

When I first heard this assignment I had no clue how I could possibly connect the Steel Stacks to English content. I thought it was the most abstract idea ever, until I actually went to the Steel Stacks. As I was walking through and exploring the complex, there were so many connections that I could make between the complex and content. When reading anything in an English classroom, it is important to know about the background of the author and the period that the piece was written in. This information helps the students get an idea of what the period was like and it helps them make better connections to the text. For someone to be able to understand a literature about the history of Bethlehem, they must know and be familiar with the essence of the Bethlehem Steel. Without knowledge of the Bethlehem Steel, the students would not be able to make a connection between the text and what they are actually learning.

Furthermore, in class we talk about differentiating for your students and their learning. In order to accommodate for our visual learners, we could show pictures of the Bethlehem Steel Stacks. By showing them the pictures, they can at least get an idea of what the story will be about. We have to accommodate for our students in order for them to learn in the best way. Field trips like the one that we took to the Steel would be beneficial for our students. When the students are able to interact with content, whether that be virtually or in real time, the content is going to be more understandable. This fits in very well with the students connecting to the place and the space when learning. Additionally, when I initially saw the circular wheel looking objects, I had thought about the different processes. For example, the writing process is like a cycle in which you are always revising and editing. If I were to show my students the circular wheel, I could have them create that analogy with the writing. Therefore, when the students are able to see the connection, the writing process may be more meaningful to them.

It is all about making the personal connections in order to make learning more meaningful. For example, imagine having to teach your students about Shakespeare. If they are not familiar with Shakespeare, it will be hard for them to understand his works. Therefore, we can use resources around us that will help us teach the students about Shakespeare. I would try to find a virtual tour of maybe the Globe Theater, and show the students. Alongside that, I would talk to them about the history of the Globe Theater, and how that has impacted the works of Shakespeare. By allowing the students to make these connections, we are allowing them to learn through both hands on and experimentally. They are learning by seeing the content in context, making connections, and at the same time they are having fun while doing it!

 

As I walked around the historic Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, I began to think about how I could incorporate such a fundamental, well-known part of the community into my Spanish classroom. At first, this does not seem like a very obvious task. How could I make the Steel Stacks – something so monumental in our little town’s history – relate to my Spanish lessons? While wandering around and admiring the beauty of them, I remembered how important for the community those Steel Stacks were and still continue to be for the people of Bethlehem, and that’s when I realized it.

Many of my students have ties to the Stacks through their relatives. The Steel Stacks provided work for a multitude of families – especially immigrant families – and a lot of those immigrants came from hispanic origin. If I could somehow take the history of these industrial giants and relate it to the family history of my students, that would make my lesson both relevant to the students, and cross-curricular.

Sometimes, having my students learn about something historical in Spanish class sounds like a boring task to them at first. However, by tying the history to something that directly relates to my students in a meaningful way, I am sure they would be more likely to find the worth in what I am teaching them. I think they would be excited to find out about the history of something that provided a way of life for their relatives. For the students who don’t have direct family ties to the Steel Stacks, chances are they know a friend who does. The hispanic community in Bethlehem is prominent and continues to grow larger, and it would be beneficial for all of my students to know more about the people they’re surrounded by and growing up with.

As far as the actual lesson goes, I would have my students do a project by researching the history of the Steel Stacks and the immigrants who came to work there, making Bethlehem the thriving city it is today. I would give them the autonomy to choose from multiple ways to present the information they found, such as role-playing and creating an iMovie or video about the journey of a hispanic immigrant, making a piece of art that portrays the Steel Stacks and an oral presentation in Spanish to go with it, creating a song/rap/poem about the life of a hispanic immigrant who worked there, making a journal in Spanish written from the perspective of a hispanic immigrant, or for the students who are a little less creatively-inclined and more versed in academic writing, simply writing an informative essay. There would be so many ways to incorporate new and old Spanish vocabulary, grammatical concepts, and culture in this lesson, and the students would have more fun learning in this way than doing something more ordinary, like repetitive practice sheets.

As a student teacher, I like to make my lessons relevant to the students whenever I can. A prior high school teacher of mine once told me, “If you want kids to learn, make the lesson about them. Students love when everything revolves around them.” It was funny to me at the time, but I quickly realized how true that is – and it’s not because the students are conceited. Most students simply have an innate drive to learn about what makes them who they are, and this lesson could be just the way to give them that opportunity. As many times as I’ve walked around the Steel Stacks, run past them during my cross country practices, or driven by with friends, I never would have thought that they could provide me with such great ideas for creative, cross-curricular lessons that are relevant to my students. However, after walking and thinking with history, I was able to open my mind to a new way of thinking about my approaches to teaching and learning. I suppose sometimes all it takes is a step outside of the classroom and into the community to get inspiration for innovative ways to make lessons more enriching, and the classroom a more exciting place.

 

As I view the multi-faceted steel structures that lay before me only one thing comes to mind and that is how could this be built. On that note, from an educator’s perspective the resolutions are limitless. During the mid 1800s this iconic land mark if you have not already guessed it the Bethlehem Steel Stacks had major influences on the ethnicities that migrated to this area. In addition, this created a major confluence of different languages from immigrants who moved to the area to find work. The multitude of ethnicities created this void for educators that would need to be able to teach the future of America at a more advanced level.

 

 

 

 

If you look closely at the individual elements that make up the Steel Stacks, it can be compared to the multiple ethnicities of people it took to build this structure. Also, unlike structures of today’s era, back then each element was created by individuals with different strengths and abilities. This is why having a diverse education community is important for the modern classroom of today. Between the 1800-1900s when there was a massive boom in the economy parents would go off to work at the Steel Stacks leaving children with a proper education that they were yearning for.

 

During this time most of the immigrants came from European descent and were labeled as a blue group of people. It is important to not stereotype others and from the information I acquired the workers goal was to make sure their children would not fall under the same assumptions that were made about them. This is why education was heavily focused on during this time in the Bethlehem area. Also, the area was known for being a little revolutionary in essence of having the first college to educate women. This college is also known as Moravian College. Furthermore, the teachers who were starting their careers during this time were also from similar backgrounds, which made it easier for them to assimilate the students in this once tight knit community. On the other hand, it is important as an educator today to focus on the same concepts of including cultural backgrounds into your classroom.

 

Even though the demographics of Bethlehem are more diverse today it would be beneficial to have the parents of the students involved in the class. Some examples would be a show and tell about your heritage or bringing in cuisine from you culture. As an educator it is my duty to make sure that students take pride in their heritage since it represents their values as a learner and a human being. If students are able to express themselves, it can lead us to acquiring new information about them including their strengths and talents when making groups for assignments or in class work. This is similar to how those who built the vast amount of elements which created what we now call today the Steel Stacks. In the essence that each person involved was not afraid to showcase their talent and creativity. The Steel Stacks in many ways embody what it means to be a successful educator.