Students get a living history lesson
By MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff WriterArticle Photos
Negaunee High School juniors Brad St. Germain,16, and Jesse Anderson, 17, listened eagerly to the elderly woman, recording her tales on videotape.
“We’re interviewing people about their memories of Negaunee,” Anderson said. “Like a typical day when they were kids and how things have changed.”
St. Germain said he has learned a lot from the people he’s interviewed. He particularly liked one story he heard about driving from Negaunee to Ishpeming, he said.
“They used to call that ‘buzzin’ the gut,’” Anderson said.
Under the supervision of writing for technology teacher Andy Skewis, high school students have been videotaping reminiscences of area residents as part of a project with the City of Negaunee.
“The city actually was able to help fund the project for historical preservation,” Skewis said. The class received $2,000 to create DVDs of the interviews and buy appropriate equipment.
“When we’re all finished, we’ll turn it over to Negaunee Public Library, Negaunee Senior Center and Negaunee Historical Society,” Skewis said.
The students had to come up with a list of questions to ask the seniors, including “Are there personalities that you remember from Negaunee’s past?” or “Can you remember any big events in the city that stood out?”
The students made the initial contact with an interviewees and conducted the interviews themselves, Skewis said. He helped them with the editing process back at school.
Skewis listed many benefits from the program.
“They get excited about the story,” he said. “They learn things about the city.”
Students also learn interviewing skills and how to handle the technical equipment, Skewis said.
“They had to practice writing the questions to solicit the right kind of answers,” he added. “Most importantly they’re making connections to the city. I think they take pride in the fact that the work they’re doing is going to be seen outside of the classroom.”
