BAY RIDGE — Eighth–grader Anthony Franki understands that his day sitting in a class at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy might look much different had he been born in the 18th century, before the advent of stringent child labor laws.
That understanding comes from his research into the history of U.S. child labor laws as part of the academy’s new History Scholars Program. The program, in collaboration with St. Francis College, allows students to research a topic independently, write a thesis, and defend their findings before a panel of academics.
“I thought it would be fun to join because I want to learn a little bit about child labor, which is what me and my classmates are doing now,” Anthony said when The Tablet visited the program’s classroom on Oct. 21.
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In the spring, students will stand before a panel that will include professors from St. Francis College and other colleges to defend their work.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I think I got this,” Anthony said.
His father, Nicholas Franki, said he encouraged him to opt for History Scholars as an elective.
“I said, ‘Anthony, it’s like a soap opera. That’s what history is. It’s telling stories of other people,’ ” Franki recalled.
The college has embraced the History Scholars program, according to undergraduate dean John Edwards, who also noted that the two schools have “had a long partnership.”
“We wanted to partner deeper with Bay Ridge Catholic in terms of their history offerings,” he explained. “The sixth, seventh, and eighth graders here at Bay Ridge Catholic are going to be trained to answer the same questions that our college students answer.”
The students are studying a wide range of topics. Anthony and two other students, Holson Hector and Blake Torres, are concentrating on the history of child labor laws; Holson’s brother, Veraldi Hector, is focusing on the Underground Railroad; seventh grader Athina Sin is looking at immigration at Ellis Island; and sixth grader JJ Nielsen’s topic is the impact of Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson.
At the end of the course, History Scholar students will earn certificates issued jointly by Bay Ridge Catholic Academy and St. Francis College.
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“Partnering with an institution like St. Francis and being able to walk away with something you could hang on the wall allows a child to have pride in what they do,” Franki said.
History Scholars, which began in September, is just one of several elective courses Bay Ridge Catholic Academy offers middle school grades to give them a taste of high school and college life.
“We were looking for new ways to engage our families,” said Principal Paul Morisi. “We thought implementing an elective program might be the best way … to engage the students who are currently in our seats in a wonderful new way to learn.”