2008 Woodie Awards
Beyond the classroom
Dr. Hirsch uses guest speakers to broaden student perspectives
Chris Donnelly '08
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
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Learning in the classroom is not all about papers, quizzes, and tests. Dr. Eric Hirsch, professor of sociology and chair of the department, has proved as much this semester in his Urban Sociology class.
"I think it is really important to get out into the community in order to learn what you really need to learn," said Hirsch, who also serves as the government relations chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homelessness.
The 65 students who are in Hirsch's two urban sociology classes are required to either volunteer in the community or do a special project related to the main topic addressed in the class: homelessness, crime, and poverty. The project can be done many different ways. Students have not only done service, but have turned in sculptures, films, poems, paintings, and songs of what they have experienced by spending time in impoverished areas.
"Dr. Hirsch encourages us to do alternative projects," said Jordan Pinches '07, a student in Hirsch's class class.
Besides the use of the projects, Hirsch teaches his students about poverty, homelessness, crime, and race relations through guest speakers, such as Heidi Collins, the director of public education at the Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College and a former welfare recipient.
Hirsch brought in David St. Germaine, a homeless man who just weeks ago obtained permanent supportive housing. St. Germaine also shared his experiences with being homeless and how he came to be homeless.
"He had a pretty incredible story," said Andrew Miner '09. "Just hearing him speak about homelessness, it was quite a bit different than hearing it from Dr. Hirsch."
"It puts a face on it. People have a picture of the stereotypical homeless person, but there is no stereotypical homeless person," said Hirsch.
For Pinches, the class in which St. Germaine spoke was not his last encounter with St. Germaine. Pinches called St. Germaine after hit talk to see if he would speak at another event when St. Germaine then asked Pinches to help move furniture from a closed homeless shelter, Welcome Arnold, to his apartment.
"I think it is really important to get out into the community in order to learn what you really need to learn," said Hirsch, who also serves as the government relations chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homelessness.
The 65 students who are in Hirsch's two urban sociology classes are required to either volunteer in the community or do a special project related to the main topic addressed in the class: homelessness, crime, and poverty. The project can be done many different ways. Students have not only done service, but have turned in sculptures, films, poems, paintings, and songs of what they have experienced by spending time in impoverished areas.
"Dr. Hirsch encourages us to do alternative projects," said Jordan Pinches '07, a student in Hirsch's class class.
Besides the use of the projects, Hirsch teaches his students about poverty, homelessness, crime, and race relations through guest speakers, such as Heidi Collins, the director of public education at the Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College and a former welfare recipient.
Hirsch brought in David St. Germaine, a homeless man who just weeks ago obtained permanent supportive housing. St. Germaine also shared his experiences with being homeless and how he came to be homeless.
"He had a pretty incredible story," said Andrew Miner '09. "Just hearing him speak about homelessness, it was quite a bit different than hearing it from Dr. Hirsch."
"It puts a face on it. People have a picture of the stereotypical homeless person, but there is no stereotypical homeless person," said Hirsch.
For Pinches, the class in which St. Germaine spoke was not his last encounter with St. Germaine. Pinches called St. Germaine after hit talk to see if he would speak at another event when St. Germaine then asked Pinches to help move furniture from a closed homeless shelter, Welcome Arnold, to his apartment.