expanding horizons: humanities ladder highlight

The Humanities Ladder has been one of the Center’s programs since 2015.  Slippery Rock University faculty and local high schools collaborate to overcome social and cultural barriers to success in higher education.  Humanities Ladder students are afforded the opportunity to expand their horizons through exposure to college-level curriculum.  Dr. Yukako Ishimaru, a Humanities Ladder professor, and Ms. Diana Borowski, a Humanities Ladder classroom teacher, share their experiences with and highlight the value of the Humanities Ladder program.
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Dr. Yukako Ishimaru is a professor of Modern Languages and Cultures here at Slippery Rock University as well as a Humanities Ladder faculty at Union High School:

What is your role as a Humanities Ladder faculty?

“I teach Japanese culture in different contexts including schools, language, and traditional culture.”

Why did you choose to be a part of the Humanities Ladder program?

“I took this HL teaching opportunity as I wanted to provide an opportunity for the high school students to learn about other cultures, especially something like Japanese as they may have a chance to be exposed to Spanish and French culture/ language; however, there is hardly any opportunity when it comes to Asia in this area.”
 
What subjects and activities do you lead as part of the program?
 
“My class gives many hands-on activities such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, Japanese kimono try-on, etc.  One of the weeks, I take the visiting students from Saga University, an SRU partner university in Japan, to Union High School to have them meet and interact with Japanese people in their age.  They discuss several topics in groups.  Every time we do this, they learn that Japanese people, who they originally thought that would be very different from themselves, are no different.  That, I believe, is a strong learning experience, being able to relate themselves to something or someone so different.”
 
What do you see as the value of the Humanities Ladder program?
 
“The HL is a promising project with high impact.  HL has been able to give these students a valuable opportunity that they would not have had without HL.  Half of the class may be considering to pursue a higher education; however, at least the other half does not even think about it.  HL can be a life-changing moment for those students by connecting them to a higher education as its title suggests.  I am very honored to be a part of this project and will keep striving to improve my service.”
 
Ms. Diana Borowski is a History and English teacher at Union High School in New Castle as well as a classroom teacher with the Humanities Ladder:

What is your role as part of the Humanities Ladder program?
 
“When a professor from SRU is chosen to come into my classroom, it is my job to coordinate calendars with the professor, and also keep the professor up do date on any calendar and schedule changes within the high school. Last year my students were lucky enough to attend a field trip to Pittsburgh with the Humanities Ladder, so I also acted as the school liaison to SRU, coordinating permission slips, lunch menus, etc.  ”
 
What do you see as the value of the Humanities Ladder program?
 
“I think the Humanities Ladder allows my students to see a wider world beyond our small township.  I found that my students are very intrigued and excited when the professors are scheduled to attend class, and they sincerely look forward to those days.”

Why did you choose to be a part of the Humanities Ladder program?

“3 years ago, my administration came to me with the proposal to bring the Humanities Ladder into my classroom, and after gathering the information, I was intrigued by the possibilities SRU could bring to my class.  As an SRU Alumna, I know first-hand the level of education SRU can provide, and I was excited to be able to share a bit of that education with my sophomores.”