Student Life

Greetings from the

Since 2010, Mr. and Mrs. Heggood have taken students

on summer tours of European countries. Here is a look
into their experiences and upcoming plans.
By WALKER MILLER, Student Life Reporter
iiiiiOther students undertaking this voyage are excited to
vacation abroad with friends and classmates from Stanton,
which can add fun to international travel.
iiiiiIve never been to Europe, and I thought it would be
interesting to go with a group of people I know from my
school, said junior Karissa Dugan, who is signed up for this
years trip.
iiiiiMr. Heggood expects fifteen to twenty travelers to sign
up for the tour, a large group to supervise in comparison to
past years. Chaperoning these groups of students in foreign
nations has been a unique experience for the Heggoods.
iiiiiIts very different than getting to know students in the
classroom, and youre with them in a lot of...conditions that
would never occur otherwise, said Mrs. Heggood.
iiiiiShe recalled how in 2013 their group was left stranded in
Paris after their tour bus driver was pulled over and arrested
for violating French labor laws. The union regulations in

It was really fascinating to watch

[the students] see what they
learned in their history classes
become alive.
Mrs. Sheila Heggood
France are just one example of the cultural differences
encountered while on a tour. Mrs. Heggood also mentioned
learning how the concept of courtesy in public spaces differs
between Italy and the United States.
iiiiiThe idea we have of personal space is very different from
the idea there, where its not an affront if you get jostled,
Mrs. Heggood said.
iiiiiCrowds are a recurring element of the Heggoods
journeys. In Londons Tralfagar Square, the group stumbled
on the world premiere of the final Harry Potter movie.
iiiiiThe actors were there and the streets were just lined

with people waiting for the actors to come out, said Mrs.
Heggood. We literally had to drag away one girl who was a
huge Harry Potter fan.
iiiiiMr. Heggood cited an instance when they were staying
in the Italian town of Montecatini and happened upon a
celebration in the village center.
iiiiiIt just so happened they had a parade that was going
on, said Mr. Heggood. We all got some gelato, and that
was fun.
iiiiiNeither of the Heggoods could name a definite favorite
place or moment from their voyages, but both teachers
agree it is rewarding to have the chance to introduce foreign
travel to their students.
iiiiiYou get to share the experience of travel, said Mr.
Heggood. Weve taken students on their first flights before.
iiiiiMr. Heggood firmly believes the trips to Europe help fulfill
his and Mrs. Heggoods roles as educators.
iiiiiAs teachers, the idea is that we are preparing you to go
out and explore the world, said Mr. Heggood. This is a way
to see a little bit more of it.
iiiiiThe students who have this opportunity to travel abroad
hope to explore the world while broadening their own
perspectives.

photos courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Heggood

iiiiiAs glamorous as it may be, international travel is rarely

available for teenagers. According to a 2012 survey by
the Association of International Educators, less than one
percent of Florida students have ever traveled abroad for
educational purposes. Each summer, however, a group
of Stanton College Preparatory School students get an
opportunity to experience a unique perspective of foreign
history and culture. This experience comes in the form
of a trip to Europe organized by Mr. Brian Heggood, an
Advanced Placement European History and International
Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge 2 teacher.
iiiiiWe get to share the experience of history and culture
with students that might never have left Jacksonville before,
said Mr. Heggood.
iiiiiMr. Heggood believes many classes can be supplemented
with foreign travel, including Advanced Placement Human
Geography and English. His wife, Mrs. Sheila Heggood,
who teaches Advanced Placement English Literature and
Composition, Great Books Honors and Debate 1 and 2 at
Stanton, agrees with this belief.
iiiiiIt was really fascinating to watch [the students] see what
they learned in their history classes become alive, said
Mrs. Heggood, referring to one years trip when the group
visited several cities in Italy including Rome, Florence and
Pisa.
iiiiiMrs. Heggood has accompanied Mr. Heggood on the
trips he has organized thus far, the first of which occurred in
the summer of 2010 after a group of sophomores asked Mr.
Heggood to sponsor such a trip.
iiiiiWe have the time to travel in the summer, and I love
talking about history and culture with my students, so why
not? said Mr. Heggood.
iiiiiThe countries the students have previously visited
include Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.
This years trip is called Europes Mediterranean Coast.
According to Mr. Heggood, the nine-day itinerary begins in
Milan, Italy and ends in Barcelona, Spain. The cost is set at
$3,385 per person with the departure on June 15 and the
return on June 23. Along the way, the tour will stop in exotic
destinations such as the French Riviera, Monaco and the
Cinque Terre region in coastal Italy.
iiiiiAfter his original field trip to Italy, Mr. Heggood decided
to keep taking students to Europe for the valuable
experiences which occur when traveling abroad.
iiiiiEvery time people get a chance to travel, its
definitely broadening, said Mr. Heggood, citing his
personal vacations to Paris with Mrs. Heggood.
iiiiiStudents who decide to go on these trips to Europe
consistently mention the exciting cultures of foreign
nations as a key motivation for paying for the costly
tour.
iiiiiIve been to Europe before and Ive traveled with
EF Tours before, and I love traveling to other countries
and experiencing their culture, said junior Jeanette
Macias, one of four students currently registered for
this years trip.
A glimpse into the Heggoods journeys (clockwise from
left): Copenhagen, Denmark (2013), Paris, France (2012),
Barcelona, Spain (2011)

october 2015

devils advocate | 9