The following post is based on my new YouTube video for Copper Island Academy, a Finnish-inspired school in Calumet, Michigan. Our partnership began earlier this year.
Copper Island Academy strikes a unique balance between implementing best practices from Finnish education and embracing traditional American ideals.
Today’s post focuses on the school’s emphasis on cultivating patriotism in its students. (My previous posts focused on Copper Island’s culinary and studio programs.)
From the Battlefield to the Classroom
Kevin Boyd teaches middle school social studies at Copper Island, and he told me that the school’s overarching goal is to “develop amazing American citizens that have a respect for our country.”
In 1987, Kevin joined the U.S. Army right out of high school. Since then, he’s lived in 19 different countries and had multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kevin retired from the military with 33 years of service in 2020. But he hasn’t stopped serving our country.
He felt called to educate the next generation of Americans.
“I’ve taken part in a lot of historic events,” Kevin said. “Not only do I want them to have an understanding of that, but to have an understanding what it’s like to serve in the military, to serve on a jury, to be a politician, to be a good voter.”
Kevin also wants his students to understand the freedoms and rights they enjoy as U.S. citizens—and the sacrifices made before them. His conviction represents the ethos I’ve found at Copper Island.
Cultivating Patriotism
The school cultivates patriotism in visible ways each week. Every morning, students and staff say the Pledge of Allegiance together—and on Mondays, they sing a patriotic song.
Kevin’s very proud of another tradition at the school: the raising, lowering, and folding of the American flag. When the 2022-2023 school year began, several middle school girls stepped up to handle this daily responsibility.
“Despite the weather,” Kevin said, “they get the flag up each morning, and they take it down … and they’re very proud of that.”
Traditions like raising the flag and reciting the Pledge may seem modest, but they can significantly impact students.
“If you don’t learn the traditions that we’ve built you lose that respect for them,” said Kevin. “If you’re not taking part in the traditions, you don’t have an understanding of why and how we do what we do.”
Kevin’s middle schoolers learned about the Battle of Iwo Jima in social studies. Images from that historical event moved them.
A famous photo shows six U.S. Marines risking their lives to raise the American flag on Mount Suribachi. (Three of those men were later killed in action.)
Raising the school flag during peacetime is clearly different from what happened during the Battle of Iwo Jima. But the tradition is the same.
“It builds respect, honor, duty, a sense of belonging,” Kevin said.
Honoring Veterans
Throughout the academic year, Copper Island honors those who have served in the U.S. military. For example, the school hosted a luncheon for veterans in October.
At the event, a couple of Kevin’s students lowered the flag, resulting in a powerful learning experience.
“As they started lowering it, one of the Korean War veterans walked over,” Kevin said. “And he and I saluted them as they were lowering and folding the flag—and it brought them to tears.”
Kevin believes this moment further cemented his students’ respect for the flag.
“It was something that I will never forget,” one eighth-grader told me.
“My Grandpa served in the Vietnam War,” one of her classmates said, “and I think taking down the flag is a great way to show respect to him and all the other veterans who served in wars for the U.S.”
Passing on the Tradition
Last fall, Kevin taught middle schoolers to care for the flag. This spring, these students passed on the tradition.
Around Memorial Day, Copper Island middle schoolers showed second-graders how to raise, lower, and fold the flag. When the younger students returned to their classroom, they practiced the proper folding technique.
Kevin reminded me that Memorial Day is America’s most hallowed military holiday. It’s a time when we remember and honor those who died in the line of duty, serving our country.
Kevin lost friends in Panama, Somalia, and Iraq. In Afghanistan, he lost his medic and fellow soldiers he was close to. (Tragically, his best friend and Platoon Sergeant—while Kevin served as a Platoon Leader—succumbed to wounds received in Afghanistan years after returning home.)
“I’ll never forget these guys and girls that made the ultimate sacrifice,” Kevin said.
Every time I’ve visited Copper Island, I’ve sensed deep reverence for the United States, the American flag, and those who have served in our military. The school is serious about giving its students both a love of learning and a love of country.
Watch my latest YouTube video about Copper Island Academy to see what cultivating patriotism looks like in action:
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Tim Walker is an American teacher, writer, and speaker based in Connecticut. He is the author of Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms.
Inspired by his work in Finnish schools, Tim speaks internationally about play, trust, and joy in education. He also writes about global educational practices at teachlands.com. Reach Tim Walker at tim (at) taughtbyfinland.com.
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