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Field Trip

Ashley West on November 15, 2013

On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the 7th grade class took a field trip to the Missions and Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum in San Antonio, Texas.  At Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum, the students were able to meet this very charming and eclectic 92 year old man named Barney Smith.  He is a retired master plumber who started constructing his unique artwork after he found himself with over 100 toilet seats just laying around.  He has all kinds of themes for his artwork from sports all the way to dental. His work definitely has variety!  There is at least one toilet seat that everyone can connect with and really appreciate.

 His museum is located in his garage and you have to call ahead of time, which he kept reiterating to us because he has a 92 year old wife whom he has been married to for 74 years.  She is very ill right now so he has to take care of her and make sure she is cared for during the time you visit his museum.  The kids really enjoyed all of his work and meeting such a unique man.  At the end of our trip, he slowly climbed on our bus with his walking stick in hand and read a beautiful poem to all of the kids. He told them how much he appreciated them coming to see him and his work.  He also expressed how he appreciated the decorated Stockdale themed toilet seat we made him.

We also visited three different missions in San Antonio; Mission Conception, Mission San Juan, and Mission Jose.  The students were able to learn all about the history and purpose of these missions during the Spanish Colonial Era.  The trip tied in very well with our curriculum right now as we are studying this time period in Texas.  The students have been very interested in how the Spanish treated the Native Texans during this period, so it was nice for them to be able to ask questions to the expert historians that guided us on our trip.  All the students were on their best behavior and represented Stockdale Junior High with pride and honor.