Nash Teachers at Illinois Coal Education Conference
by Carey Curran
June 16, 2009
June 16 - 19, three sixth grade teachers, Mrs. Brough, Mrs. Curran, and Mrs. LeDoux, and one fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Dawson, had the opportunity to attend the 12th Annual Illinois Coal Education Conference at Rend Lake Resort in southern Illinois. They were joined by 110 other Illinois teachers, geologists, representatives from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and others who represented the coal mining industry.
Coal Conference <--View the slideshow by clicking the
link
At this conference, hosted by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, educators attended several sessions that discussed a vast amount of information. Along with the abundant amount of information about coal and how it is used, teachers had the rare privilege of touring a power plant, a surface mine, and a working underground mine.
At the power plant where electricity is produced, the Nash teachers learned the basic functions of how the plant is run. They toured the control room, which has several monitors to constantly monitor the plants operations. During the plant tour, they also visited where the coal is burned to create vapor which in turn creates steam for the turbines.
When visiting the surface mine, teachers viewed a safety video to begin their tour. They then took a bus to the surface mine where they could watch miners in the pit, and discussed the procedures the coal company has to abide by ranging from permits to reclamation of the land.
The final tour taken was to the underground mine. In order to go underground, a video of safety procedures was viewed. In the video it discussed how escape routes are marked underground in case miners need to evacuate. The groups of teachers were also required to wear a hard hat with a lamp and battery pack, a reflective vest, steel toed boots, and a RCSC, an emergency respirator used in emergency conditions with poor air. All of this equipment weighed approximately 50 pounds. After gearing up and boarding the man-trip, a vehicle used by miners, small groups descended down a 990 yard slope. The man-trip continued approximately 1.5 - 2.0 miles into the mine until they reached the face of where the coal was being mined. It was said by miners and geologists that they were at least 250 feet, if not more, beneath the ground surface. While on the tour, teachers had the opportunity to meet, talk with, and watch miners work. This part of the tour was definitely the highlight of the day, as well as the conference.
To conclude the conference, Roy Lee Cook, a Rocket Boy, was keynote speaker. His story was inspirational, as much of it was about how his teachers influenced him.
While Mrs. Brough, Mrs. Curran, Mrs. LeDoux, and Mrs. Dawson attended tours, many sessions about the types of mining, mine safety, coal economics, clean coal technology, etc., they were also given lesson plans and ideas on how to bring their newly gained information into each area of curriculum.
In reflection to this conference, each teacher is hoping to have the opportunity to return again and would recommend this experience to other teachers of all grade levels and curriculums.
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