Clubs are a popular way for high school and middle school students to get involved with others who share similar interests, and let them explore, broaden their perspectives, develop skills, and learn teamwork.
Parsons High School and Middle School’s newest club C.A.M.P, is bringing even more opportunities forward for students to learn and work together.
C.A.M.P. stands for Cultural Alliance and Multiracial Pact.
“Last year I talked to Rob, and he was all for it,” PHS Social Worker Kristina Mayhue said. “I feel like it is something that is needed, and not just to recognize and acknowledge the Black and African American culture, but I think to highlight a lot of cultures and a lot of things that are not highlighted. Not everything can be taught in the classroom in the hour that they have.”
Mayhue explained how the idea for the club developed. Last year during Black History Month she wore some T-Shirts that were conversation starters. One was about Black Wallstreet in Tulsa. One of the people who struck up a conversation with Mayhue was PHS History Teacher Loni Quarton.
“Loni had approached me and said, ‘Hey, we are on that chapter in class,’ so we talked about it to see if we could take some kids to Tulsa to the Greenville District so they could experience Black Wallstreet,” Mayhue said. “The kids loved it. The club was just something that was in my mind from there. I just felt to acknowledge all of us, to respect everybody’s culture, background, and intersectionality, is important.”
With that in mind, Mayhue laid out the objective of the club, through which she wanted to be very inclusive of everybody.
The objective states: “C.A.M.P., which is the Cultural Alliance and Multiracial Pact, will allow students the opportunity to explore multiracial backgrounds while acknowledging issues and events, bringing awareness and education through celebration, diverse learning and fun activities for those interested and willing to collaborate with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.”
“Right now, we have a full array of students from different backgrounds and nationalities, so its been a good turnout,” Mayhue said. “The principal from the middle school, Tyler Gordon reached out to ask how they could get the middle school involved. Susan Hill was over there, so she leads that. We communicate a lot. I take high school students over to the middle school to lead their meetings. We’re just getting started, so it may seem chaotic, but we’re getting it together.
“They all seem pretty excited about it.”
Mayhue said some things the students have done are stadium clean up to earn money and get their name out in a positive light.
“We had a tailgate for one of the games and we gave away free hotdogs and chips, cookies and dessert. The kids were represented well, and they were able to go up to people as they entered the game and explain what the C.A.M.P. is about,” Mayhue said.
The C.A.M.P. members are signed up to work the concession stand for basketball season, too.
“We have some good things in store,” she said.
As much as possible, Mayhue tries to bring in people from different cultures to share, and help others understand more about them.
One thing about the club students have learned is you might not look like what nationality you are. For instance, when Mayhue, says her children are Creek Indian, it clashes with people’s immediate perception of race, seeing them as African American.
Cyprus Jones and SeQuoyah Reece, her daughter, presented to the club about two weeks ago for about their Native American culture. She brought in breakfast and explained what it was.
“It was like a native fruit bread, so we had that. She had artifacts she showed us from the culture, and we talked about the history of Pocahontas, and things like that,” Mayhue said. “Last month we highlighted Italian American Heritage. We had a speaker. The scheduling was off, but he is still willing to come talk to us about that culture later. To celebrate, we had breakfast pizza. I know it’s not Italian, but… . We did a scavenger hunt, they had to find certain things online we asked for. One quote a lot of them found was by Julius Casesar, ‘I came. I saw. I conquered.’ So, we talked about how they can use that in everyday life, inside school and outside school, so we tied that in. We talked about the history of Italy and had gelato and talked about the history of gelato. So it is fun things.”
When it comes to nationalities for whom they cannot find someone local, it will require research, and some imagination.
“They wanted to talk about the Egyptian culture, so we will have to do research and try to figure out who we will get to come in. Loni will probably be our best bet there because she is the history teacher,” Mayhue said. “We have some things in store.”
November is Native American Heritage Month, so they will continue to learn about that culture. Black History Month is in February, and they have several speakers and lots of things lined up for that.
“Another thing the kids want to do is go read to elementary students, so I sent the email to the elementary administrators. What we will try to do is try to read a book that goes along with their theme for the month. We can choose or they can choose a book from their library. They will be able to know what the book is so they can read it first if they want, Mayhue said.
Initial interest between the middle school and high school is about 40 to 45 students. Mayhue said they have lots of seniors here at the high school that are interested, but the meeting time is during Viking Time starting at 8 a.m. and seniors don’t have to come until 8:30. The seniors could choose to come early if they want to be there, but most use that extra time for other things. “So what I have done is send them the club minutes so they can see what we have done and what is next. We are hoping that might encourage them to come,” Mayhue said. “For the middle school meetings, they go over between first and second lunch so the kids can come eat in the community room over lunch. So, we try to be creative.”
Mayhue said she is hoping the club can get more exposure, so it becomes as known as K.E.Y. Club or Student Council, as she feels it is something important and will benefit all students.
“We just want them to know they can come and learn and take something out of it,” Mayhue said. “It is a safe space, with respect and dignity. We don’t tolerate derogatory comments or racial slurs.”
“The kids are pretty excited, so I am excited,” she said.