Good Fences

In suburban America, it is becoming increasingly rare to have an "open concept" backyard ... a yard without fences. We used to be that rarity, until our new neighbors to the west put up a six foot cedar fence.

It was fascinating to experience the range of emotions (mostly negative and mostly dramatic) that a fence caused. How dare they put up a fence? They are ruining our backyard and blocking our views! What are they trying to keep in or what are they trying to keep out? We're putting our house up for sale!

When I taught American Literature, one of my favorite poems to uncover with students was Robert Frost's "Mending Wall"; a poem that famously ends with "Good fences make good neighbors."  Although Frost masterfully penned this narrative poem, the richness of the poem really flows out of the inherent complexity of fences.

If you want to spark a heated discussion in the classroom or on the street corner (or in my backyard), bring up the topic of fences or walls ... as Frost reminds us "Something there is that doesn't love a wall."

A topic so powerful needs to be a part of our educational landscape.  Most students at the high school level are cognitively ready to discuss (which will turn into a debate) the concept of fences and walls.

• Do good fences truly make good neighbors?
• What defines a "good" fence?
• When / where are fences needed?
• Does our (or why does our) culture need fences?
• What are we walling in or what are we walling out?

Interdisciplinary Theme: Fences

Here are a few ideas ... just a start.

English / Literature

Obviously, literature is an amazing vehicle to lead discussions on this topic ... 

• Frost's "Mending Wall" 
• Wilson's play Fences (made into a 2016 award winning film, directed by Denzel Washington)

Social Sciences / History / Politics

Passionate debates are already happening (and need to happen) about immigration and border walls in America and globally, so the unit could be spent solely on current events. Clearly, a Fences/Walls theme would also lead to lessons on nationalism, isolationism, and the impact of border walls (Berlin and the West Bank, et. al.).

STEM

The mathematics, physics, and engineering elements of designing/building a wall and testing its strength could be coupled with the PBL and Service-Learning tasks of helping someone rebuild a dilapidated fence.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Good fences make good neighbors, but they, likewise make good friends. Relational boundaries are an important part of healthy socio-emotional development. However, the shadow side to boundaries is isolation and loneliness. 

Bible

Christian schools can incorporate Frost's quote about fences making "good neighbors" with Christ's  greatest commandment to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:35-40) ... even if they put a fence up.  However, God's command to Nehemiah to build a wall (Nehemiah 1) and Isaiah's message that we will be "called Repairer of Broken Walls" (Is. 58:12) can also be used to facilitate deep learning in our faith formative high school students.

Let's Do This!

This is just a brief reflection on a potential interdisciplinary theme of fences; so much immediately comes to mind. Imagine sitting with insightful and creative interdisciplinary colleagues to develop this thematic unit!