A small group of students at Delaware Hayes High School are getting a hands-on lesson about the Middle Ages as part of the school’s Age of Chivalry club.
The club is just one of dozens that take place every other Friday at Hayes as part of club days, which were started last year to give students a club to take part in to during school hours.
Katrina Strubler, a library research specialist at Hayes, said she and her son Geoff, a senior, started the club last year to show students about one of their personal interests.
“[Geoff] and I do living history on the weekends and brought it to school to share it,” Strubler said.
Strubler said they have taught the 15 students in the club about sewing, how to make chain-mail, medieval history and how to play medieval games including juggling. Geoff said later this semester the students in the club will learn how to make their own shoes out of leather and how to design their own heraldry.
“[I joined] because I’m a nerd and like stuff like this,” said Bradley Brookover, a sophomore in the club. “I think it’s all fascinating and I like to learning new things.”
Strubler said her favorite part has been seeing the students take an interest in the Middle Ages and doing research on their own.
“It’s really thrilling that they are researching things on their own,” Strubler said. Strubler said the students had done research outside the club and learned about medieval naming conventions and discussed it at the next club meeting.
Caleb Helton, a junior, said he already had an interest in the middle ages before he joined but is glad he did.
“I’m really enjoying it,” Helton said. “I’d been thinking of learning about medieval combat and armor and the time period.”
Strubler said that the club has also outgrown the club periods and has begun meeting after school every other Monday.
