A day trip to Oxford

Editor's note: Erick Harris is a graduate of Central High School who is attending college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. This is one of several columns he will be writing from London about his experiences as a semester intern with Parliament.

By Erick Harris

One of my responsibilities as an intern for the Centre for Social Justice is to go on visits with either the staff or CSJ founder Iain Duncan Smith. Until last week, those visits have been limited to ventures with CSJ staff around London. That is largely because going on a visit with Duncan Smith is an all-day affair, whereas a visit in London is typically a short jaunt across town. Nevertheless, last Tuesday I was invited to accompany Duncan Smith on a visit to Oxford.

Having spent a day with Congresswoman Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Sen. Jim Talent on their annual farm tour through the Bootheel over the past summer, I felt as if I was relatively prepared for what was to come. However, as the day wore on, it turns out I was not. The trip through Southeast Missouri was, so to speak, in my back yard. Oxford was on entirely uncharted territory -- and I was with an international figure.

The day began well before the crack of dawn, because Oxford is about a three-hour train journey from where I live in London. Oxford is a city with a rich history dating back to the 10th century. Most notably, Oxford is home to Oxford University, which claims to be the oldest university in England. Further, President Clinton studied there as a Rhodes scholar in the late 1960s.

Upon arriving, I was greeted by a friend who is a student at Oxford, who gave me a quick tour around campus before I met Iain Duncan Smith at St. Edwards boarding school. Among the stops were Christ Church, where parts of Harry Potter movies were filmed, and Bodleian Library, where there is a copy of every copyrighted book published in the United Kingdom. The wonderfully historic buildings were a brilliant sight.

When I arrived at St. Edwards school, Duncan Smith had already begun speaking to a politics class about his beginnings as a Member of Parliament and his rise to becoming the leader of the Conservative Party. As many of the students had political aspirations, Duncan Smith gave his advice and finished up by answering a number of questions. After lunch and a quick chat with some students, we were whisked away to our next destination -- Reading Quest.

Reading Quest is a program for students up to 12 years of age who experience reading or writing difficulty. The students undergo daily sessions with tutors to further their education and self-confidence. Remarkably, last year nearly 300 pupils were taught to read on a shoestring budget based largely upon charitable donations. Following a tour around the school, Duncan Smith had a private meeting with a few teachers and parents.

After the tour, Duncan Smith addressed the Oxford University Catholic Society on the importance of values in politics and its connection to religion and faith. An hour later, I attended a briefing by three prominent political scientists regarding British voters and the upcoming election.

That evening, we were greeted by the president of the Tory Reform Group for a discussion and formal dinner, where I was received at the head table. I got the opportunity to talk to several students about their courses and future career goals. As expected, there was some political discussion, though it would be better described as a dialogue of accords. Following dinner, Duncan Smith made his final speech for the day.

After a nearly 20-hour experience, I returned to my flat in London and reflected on the day's events. Not only did I get the fantastic opportunity to spend the day with Iain Duncan Smith, but I got to engage with and learn from incredibly intelligent students who may become the future leaders of the United Kingdom. And in an environment like Oxford, which fosters mutual learning and critical thinking, I know my time was very well spent.

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