Army Pfc. Zachary Finch, Marcellus Senior High School Class of 2008, Visits Fourth Grade Classroom

Students in Suzanne Alexander’s and Jeanine Snyder’s classroom received a special instructional treat on Thursday, October 21st, as Army Pfc. Zachary Finch visited the fourth (4th) grade learners. Finch spoke to the challenges of army life in Afghanistan and the many aspects of Muslim culture. The very interactive presentation provided the opportunity for students to ask questions and for classroom instructors Alexander and Snyder to tap into the classroom SMARTboard technology to support Finch’s remarks. In response to student questions Finch spoke about following aspects of army life in Afghanistan:
· Fighting the war: Finch talked about the challenges of fighting an enemy that you can’t see, “There is not a battlefield, it is like if we were running around Marcellus looking for the bad guys. The problem with fighting over there is that you never see the enemy. They shoot at you, you shoot back, and then they are gone. The person who shot at you could be the farmer you pass in the village a few hours later.”
· Daily life: Finch shared with students that “we are not allowed to drink the water”, that “army food is not very good”, that “soldiers sleep on the ground or in tents”, that it may be “45 days between ‘real’ showers”, that his “body armor can weigh up to 80 lbs”, and that “temperatures can reach well into the 100s”.
· The role of women in the army: Finch told students that by rule, woman are not allowed in combat positions, female soldiers may have technical, legal, medical, or clerical responsibilities. He also shared that women have more expanded roles in the military of other nations and that he is very supportive of an expanded role.
· Muslim Culture: Finch explained the many elements of Muslim culture and touched upon diet, religion, self –care, and the role of women.
Over the past year, Alexander/Snyder’s students have had on-going communication through both the U.S. Mail and electronic mail. Most important to this presentation was Finch’s very sincere appreciation for the letters, drawings, and messages that he has received from students, “I have a stack of letters and communications that is this high (holding his hand three feet above the ground), and I have kept them all.” Suzanne Alexander brought closure to the presentation as she reminded her students that “We have talked about heroes all year long as we have read our books, today we have a real live hero in our classroom.” The impressive nature of Finch’s presentation was clearly reflected in the poise of his delivery, his sensitivity to his young audience, his sincere appreciation for the support from the home front, and his humble belief that he is just “doing his job” for his country. Zach is the son of the senior high school nurse Terri Finch.