History Beyond Textbooks: Awty 10th Graders Visit Gandhi Museum and Sugarland 95 Site

On January 31, the Awty’s 10th grade students set out on a field trip to the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston and the Sugarland 95 Memorialization Project. Designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of history, human rights, and social justice, the trip combined historical reflection with modern-day technology, providing students with real-world learning experiences.

The first stop of the trip was the Eternal Gandhi Museum, where students explored the life, philosophy, and impact of Mahatma Gandhi. Through appealing exhibits, historical artifacts, and engaging discussions, they gained insight into Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and their influence on global movements for justice. 

Students were also able to reflect on Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence, peace, love, truth, and service to observe how they could make a positive impact in their own communities.

Sophomore Zaza Warrender, an attendee of the trip, enjoyed the interactive component of the museum, remarking that she learned a lot about the history of the civil rights leader during the trip. She also connected the trip to her history class curriculum about colonial imperialism, enjoying the experiential learning program that was offered by the school.

Overall, she found the trip very interesting and enjoyed getting away from schoolwork to learn about important historical events.

Following the museum visit, the students traveled to the Sugarland 95 Memorialization Project, a historical location where the remains of 95 formerly convicted African-American laborers from the post-Civil War era were discovered.

There, students learned about the dark history of forced labor in Texas, the legacy of racial injustice, and the ongoing efforts to honor and recognize these forgotten individuals. They were guided through the site by historians who shared the stories behind the excavation and the significance of memorializing these workers.

As a sophomore who takes the Biotechnology course offered at Awty, I was personally most fascinated by the forensic tools being used to identify the deceased individuals and search for their living relatives. These tools play a crucial role in historical and criminal investigations, allowing researchers to piece together lost histories and provide closure to families seeking answers about their ancestors.

As the students returned to school, they carried with them not only newfound knowledge but also a deeper appreciation for the significance of history in today’s world.