Local teachers to travel to Turkey for cultural exposure
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Turkey fascinates Linda Legman.

The teacher attended a seminar about Turkey at California Lutheran University recently and was surprised to learn that the government is secular, despite being a nation where nearly all 71 million inhabitants are Muslim.

Legman was also impressed to learn that the country, which straddles two continents, granted women the right to vote a few years after establishing itself as a republic. The United States took more than 100 years to give its female citizens that right.

Legman, a second-grade teacher at Glenwood Elementary School in Thousand Oaks, was one of about 50 educators to attend the one-day presentation on Turkish culture, history and sites put on by the World Council Affairs of America-California Central Coast chapter.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan regional group, part of a national organization whose mission is to develop global awareness and understanding, invited the teachers to apply for a free trip to Turkey, sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Foundation.

The privatelyfunded foundation wants to spread the word about the rich cultural experience the country has to offer and hopes teachers will do so by integrating what they learn about Turkey into their curriculum

Twenty-six Ventura County teachers submitted an essay explaining how they would the use information they gleaned while in Turkey in their classroom. Legman was one of the four chosen to take the 17-day trip to Turkey, scheduled from July 4 through 20.

"I really feel very fortunate; the competition was very stiff," Legman said.

World Council Affairs board member Brian Conway agrees. He said the selection committee had a difficult time making a decision because there were so many worthy applicants.

"If I had to do the choosing, I'd still be deliberating," the Thousand Oaks resident said.

Legman, a Moorpark resident, said she'll pass on to her students the importance of diversity, "not just tolerate diversity but embrace and celebrate it."

She wants to explore Turkey's nature-carved rock and sand structures that people have lived in for centuries, as well as the country's artistic communities.

"I'm anticipating a lot of excitement, and I'm willing and open to learning new things," said Legman, who holds an advanced art degree.

French and Spanish teacher Elsa Allred will also travel to Turkey. She said she hopes to pass on to her Rio Mesa High School students a better understanding of the world through her experience in the country.

She wants to expose them to different global perspectives, particularly how people in other countries perceive us.

"It seems a better way to promote peace, understanding- and that's what I'm about," Allred said. "I'm just thrilled."

Allred, who has lived in such diverse parts of the globe as Guatemala and Nepal and speaks six languages, said she feels many problems in the Middle East stem from a lack of understanding.

"I'm hoping to get a better understanding of what the conflict is about," she said.

After touching down in Istanbul, the teachers will meet with Ministry of Education officials and tour various historical sites and cities throughout the country, including a school, an art studio and an archaeological excavation site.

Marilyn Hass can hardly wait to explore Turkey's antiquities and ruins. More Greek and Roman ruins are found in Turkey than all other places combined, said the history and language arts teacher.

The 36-year teaching veteran wants to impart to her students at Monte Vista Middle School in Camarillo that human beings aren't very different from one another.

"When you get down to the real nitty gritty, I think we're very much alike," Hass said.

She'd like to establish a pen pal program between her students and those at the school she'll visit in Turkey.

"When you write to a person, you're connected to them. You want to take a little more effort . . . you want to make (the world) better," she said.

Twelve World Affairs Councils across the country will each send four teachers to Turkey in July. The 48 educators from across the United States will travel in two groups. The Ventura County group will be the first to leave. The second group will depart for Turkey in late July.

The local teachers plan to share their experiences at a World Affairs Council meeting in the fall. For more information, call (805) 988-0784.