Old Slater Mill Field Trip with RI Youth Zone Teaches History, Empathy
Last Wednesday, The Empowerment Factory and RI Youth Zone led students on a field trip to Old Slater Mill, a historic site marking the birth of water-powered cotton mills and American Industrial Revolution. Over this summer, The Empowerment Factory and fellow children’s nonprofit RI Youth Zone have held summer out-of-school reading and arts classes for local elementary students.
On Wednesday morning, students gathered at The Cape Verdean American Community Development Center in Pawtucket and received The Empowerment Factory drawstring bags filled with supplies for the trip. Students were provided a booklet for the trip that included historical facts about the mill, as well as reflection prompts and a vocabulary list.
Once at the mill, students were led on a guided tour exploring the process of early mass-spun cotton, exploring the historical cotton mill, river water dam, and factory floors.
Students also learned about the history of child labor and labor activism at the mill, with discussions encouraging students to understand their rights and recognize past injustices. During the 1800s children as young as 7 worked 12 hours a day, six days a week, while receiving less pay than adults. Lead Teacher Mr. Leon Ibacache said: “It's also something to remind them that they have rights, that it is important for us to remember what happened, so that way we don't repeat the same mistakes.”
The trip aimed to bolster self-advocacy, empathy and social awareness - core social emotional learning lessons that The Empowerment Factory strives to impart. Throughout the trip, students were guided to think critically and curiously about the historical origins that shape their everyday lives.
Before departing the mill, students were led through an arts and crafts activity in which they braided cotton yarn bracelets to take home. At the conclusion of the trip, the students regrouped at the Cape Verdean American Community Development center.
Mr. Leon remarked on his hopes what students took away from the trip: “They learn something that makes them question how things used to work before, how things work now. And they ask how can we make a better world for the future? I really hope for that.”