AP Human Geography back downtown

The AP Human Geography (AP HuGe) class had a good couple of years of getting students out into Milwaukee to experience the religious landscape of south eastern Wisconsin, then Covid came. After a two year break the class broke outside its walls again to experience the content they were studying.

December 13, AP HuGe students left the high school to take a peak at four of the major world religions that are present in southeastern Wisconsin, identify their imprint on the cultural landscape around us, learn some of the basics of those religious beliefs and practices and learn how the Milwaukee area became the home of these different groups.

Each destination provided a one hour tour of the facility and worship area, along with information and an opportunity for questions. The first destination was actually a Waukesha destination located just 10 minutes from Mukwonago High School. That was the Haksa Buddhist Temple. Eo, a former monk welcomed the students and shared about Buddhism and what life is like being a Buddhist in Waukesha reflecting back on his time as a monk and sharing his desire to become a monk once again.

The second destination was the Congregation Shalom Synagogue just north of Milwaukee proper. The synagogue is home to a reform Jewish community and was very welcoming. As Rabbi Poslosky showed students around different worship & congregation areas, she also shared the history of one of their scrolls, which was rescued from eastern Europe after being hidden during the Holocaust and was relocated to their synagogue in Milwaukee. She also read some of the text from the first line of the Torah, talking about the importance in Jewish understanding to read only the original text of Hebrew.

For lunch, the group stopped at the Cafe India Bar and Grill, which hosted the class in the past. The restaurant has stopped doing buffet style lunches for customers as a result of Covid, but to accommodate the students from Mukwonago, they opened their doors an hour earlier and prepared a private buffet. The restaurant was very accomodating and students agreed, it also provided some delicious food. For the majority of the students, this was their first time having Indian food, making their lunch break a continuation of their cultural experience for the day.

The third religious site was the Catholic Basilica of St. Josaphat. For admission students donated non perishable foods to the food pantry that the Basilica uses to provide for community members in need. They began their tour in the basement of the Basilica learning about the history of the building, how it was originally a post office in Chicago until it was taken apart brick by brick, and then rebuilt as a church in Milwaukee. The Polish immigrant community was very dedicated to the completion of the church that many of them donated personal heirlooms made of gold to be melted down to decorate the building, a testament of their devotion. Upon moving upstairs to hear more about the church they also learned a few of the beliefs of the Catholic Church while admiring the extravagant artwork & design throughout the Basilica.

For their final stop, the class visited the Islamic Center and Mosque. While at the Mosque students listened to the Director of the Center and were also able to interact and ask questions of Muslim students who attend the school at the Islamic Center. They also witnessed groups come in and participate in a call to prayer as one of the five daily prayers that Muslims are expected to do within their religious beliefs. The students and director sent our students off with some donuts and a positive experience to finish their day with.