By Victoria Seetaram / Reporter

RUTHERFORD (March 11, 2010) — Prospective pub crawlers are not the only ones excited for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Anyone who has attended Greg Canning’s eighth-grade social studies class at Pierrepont School in Rutherford knows that March 17 is a day to remember.

As a kickoff for their own cultural presentations, which will occur later this month, and to correct the many stereotypes and misconceptions that exist about St. Patrick’s Day and Irish traditions in general, Canning dresses in a complete kilt outfit and explains the differences between Scottish dress and Irish dress, as well as the history of kilts in Ireland and around the world.

“The purpose of the presentation and their own cultural project is for the students to gain an understanding of and appreciation for the cultural traditions of and the contributions made by America’s immigrants and their descendants, as well as the difficulties they faced in leaving their homeland and in reestablishing themselves within the United States of America,” Canning said.

The provincial flags of Ireland are displayed in the classroom, as well as a number of different cultural items, including a Gaelic football and hurling stick and their respective jerseys. With the football and hurling stick in hand, the enthusiastic teacher explains how these two sports are played.

Finally, Canning serves Irish black tea and Irish coddleto to the students. While doing this, he demonstrates how Irish tea is both made and served and how it is different from American tea. At the same time, he likes to add how corned beef and cabbage is an Irish-American tradition, and not necessarily an Irish tradition.

“The more we understand about each other’s traditions the more we begin to realize the common bond that binds us together as one human family,” the teacher concluded.

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona duit! (Happy St. Patrick’s Day)