100 Years of Educational Excellence: Focus on Abroads

Principia students studied overseas in a variety of ways—including with other schools—as early as 1927, but the first full-fledged Principia abroad program took place in 1956–57, when Dr. Edwin Leonard sailed with 15 students on the SS Maasdam to Europe, spending four months in France, Switzerland, and England. “Dr. Leonard was an English professor,” Linda Bohaker, director of the Abroad Office explains, “but the program had enormous scope, including literature, history, art, politics, international affairs, and economics.”

For the next decade, at least one abroad a year took place, first to European countries, but then Mexico was added, and in 1967–68, “Doc” Wanamaker led the first Principia abroad to East Africa. Below are other first-time abroad dates and destinations, though not a comprehensive list:

1972–73   Australia 1974–75   Middle East 1974–75   Southeast Asia 1975–76   Russia 1977–78   Guatemala 1979–80   Norway 1979–80   Bahamas 1980–81   Japan

1981–82   China 1982–83   India 1983–84   Costa Rica 1987–88   Argentina 1991–92   New Zealand 1993–94   Vietnam 1996–97   Indonesia 1998–99   Nepal

1999–00   Venezuela 1999–00   South Africa 2001–02   Peru 2010–11   Brazil 2010–11   Prague 2011–12   Iceland

Learning themes
Though their destinations and topics vary widely, all study abroad trips have six common learning themes: spiritual development, character development, cultural competence, global context, citizenship, and contextual learning. Student response leaves little doubt that participants progress in all of these areas. A student back from Nepal a few years ago described her trip as “the purest form of education I have ever had. It has changed the way I look at the world as well as the way I live my life.”

Of these six themes, however, Professor Bohaker believes the first two in particular—character development and spiritual development—distinguish Principia abroads from those led by other schools. More specifically, the “family-style” interactions among faculty, staff, and students make all the difference. As one professor put it, “There is nothing in my professional life as an educator that compares: a learning community where you live together, eat together, play together, study together, and deal with it together when the power goes out.”

Bohaker elaborates, “Family-style living, in unfamiliar and sometimes challenging environments, allows us to work with students on substantive issues of character development and spiritual growth—even as we work through them ourselves! Faculty and staff have to be willing to grow alongside their students, modeling the same qualities we hope they’ll embrace.”

Confirming the value of such close interaction, a student returning from an abroad noted, “The unity of our group was powerful, enduring, and inspirational. We became a family, supporting one another as well as supporting the country and its people.”

What matters most
For Bohaker, abroads “capture the essence of a Principia education, getting at the heart of Mrs. Morgan’s vision.” As a matter of fact, they capture that essence nearly verbatim. During faculty meetings in Principia’s early years, founder Mary Kimball Morgan reminded teachers repeatedly of their top priority: “The main purpose is to develop character, to bring out the real child, God’s child” (Education at The Principia, p. 65). A century later, Bohaker tells students essentially the same thing: “Abroads are about learning more about God and who you are as God’s child.”

As this history major’s experience several years ago demonstrates, the essence of a Principia education extends far beyond the campus gates. “Ever since Vienna,” she says, “I have had the feeling that no matter what is going to happen, God is in control. I guess that’s what I learned most through Christian Science on the trip—just to rely on God totally.” There’s no “just” about that!

Learn about abroads through the summer of 2014. Also, the Abroad Office recently announced the following programs for the 2014–15 academic year:

Fall Semester 2014
Shakespeare’s England, with a focus on literature, theatre, and culture/country studies

Winter Break (3­–4 week program)
Middle East Abroad, with a focus on Biblical studies and contemporary issues in Israel and the West Bank

Spring Semester 2015
Argentina Abroad, with a focus on journalism/mass communication, Spanish language, and culture/country studies

Nepal and India Abroad, with a focus on religion/philosophy, anthropology, Hindi language, and country studies

May 2015 (3­–4 week program)
Kazakhstan Abroad, with a focus on political science and country studies