Dear editor:

I was recently blessed with the opportunity take 48 youngsters to Honolulu. Anyone who tells you it was a glorified vacation has never been in charge of that many teenagers.

Why did we go? Simply put, we went for education. I don’t mean sit in a classroom or stare at a computer screen theoretical education. I mean “in your face real experience and dig your hands into it” education.

Of the 46 who went, 30 of them had never flown before. They had never been to an airport and gone through the violations of the TSA or experienced a take-off and landing.

You should have heard the squeals of delight as the plane left the ground. It was humorous yet thoroughly educational.

We went for culture. Did you know the Hawaiian culture is a blend of Pacific Island, Asian and North American culture? The students were exposed to a myriad of things completely foreign to them, from food and clothes to languages.

We went for music. The A Cappella choir performed at the oldest cathedral in the Pacific region. At 175 years old, the Kawaiaha’o church is quaint, yet beautiful. We heard the Lord’s prayer in Hawaiian. It was beautiful. We listened to a children’s choir sing a traditional Hawaiian song complete with dance. We were showered with praise and asked to come back anytime.

We sang in market places, parks, sidewalks, stores and buses. You name it, we sang there. The spontaneous performances are always the best.

We went for science. We took a catamaran cruise to a reef and snorkeled with sea turtles. We saw whales breach near our boat, and we learned about “leeward” and “windward” and ocean currents. We climbed an extinct volcano. You can’t do any of those things from the safety of home.

We went for history. We went to Pearl Harbor, experiencing the beginning of World War II at the U.S.S Arizona Memorial and the end of that war on the battle ship U.S.S. Missouri where surrender papers were signed. One of our student’s great uncle died on the Arizona. His name is etched on the wall.

We spread flowers on the watery grave. It was a metaphorical historical journey that can’t be duplicated on a computer screen.

Finally, we went for our souls. Those students got to gather around the bell that hung on the Arizona and sing a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Chill bumps and tears were abundant. Onlookers gathered around as our students caused cascading feelings of patriotism.

That’s why we went. Thanks to all of those in community and the school system who supported us on this trip.

This is the aim of the fine arts, to help our students make positive memories — positive memories that act as life preservers when the seas of life threaten to drown them.

These are memories that cause smiles but also stir the beginnings of wisdom.

Travis Kern

Moultrie