The Importance of Student Travel

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page" - Saint Augustine

Many people may wonder why educators want to take their students on trips, with all the hassle of transporting them safely, keeping in contact with worried parents, and all the money and planning involved (leave the planning ot us, by the way).

The answer is simple; students can only learn so much from a book, or within a classroom. Saint Augustine once said 'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page." This statement is so simple yet so true, because one can read a book many times but until they stand in the shoes of those who have lived that story, or see the places described within the story, they cannot fully understand the situations or feelings involved. This process of understanding by seeing and doing is an essential part of a complete education.

When young people travel, their eyes can be opened to so many ideas that they may not have known about or considered before.

Education is much more than just facts and statistics. Education is real life skills, understanding, and empathy. Essential real-life education comes with the overall experience of travel, with such educational benefits as:

  • Compassion
  • Confidence
  • Networking
  • Grit
  • Better academic performance
  • New interest in subjects such as culture, history, and architecture
  • Perspective
  • Individuality
  • Growth and Independence

When students are given a chance to travel, they can gain so much perspective on the world and those within it. Without going out and experiencing what others live day to day, one can only understand their own perspective on life, and overall, this is not a complete education.