 November/December 2000 (XXXVIII 5) |
he Public Education Working Group is excited to see the range of ideas and the enthusiastic commitment that Friends are bringing to children in public schools. For the 2000-2001 school year 14 Friends have received grants from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for projects in public education. These Friends are:
- Barbara Lohre, Abington Meeting (PA).
- Learning constructive techniques for dealing with behavioral issues and developing leadership skills combined with peer mediation is the essence of the worthy after-school program in which Barbara plans to work with the counselor and build a peacemaking team of children.
Kathryn Mizuno, Haddonfield Meeting (NJ).- Kitty will acquire Spanish-English dictionaries, literature and other materials which explore Japanese, Hispanic-American and African-American cultures, complementing each child's exploration of ethnic groups that exist in a Camden public school and in her English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom.
Debra Orben, Lehigh Valley Meeting (PA).- In her role as librarian in a rural school which does not have a public library nearby, Debra will purchase and use guided reading texts which address peace, justice and environmental issues. Working with teachers who want to expose students to these issues, she will use books to emphasize the power of language and communicate the connections between lessons in the story and the students' own lives.
Bill Procyson, Norristown Meeting (PA).- This project makes use of the Help Increase the Peace Program (HIPP) with youngsters who have been designated as needing specialized education because of severe emotional difficulties. The emphasis is on empowerment of self to control one's own behavior.
Kaki Sjogren, Southampton Meeting (PA).- This training will involve Kaki doing conflict resolution with adjudicated juveniles at Pennypack House School, inside the Philadelphia Prisons. These youth have been accused of crimes so serious that they are tried as adults. Many will be sent to the state penitentiary when they reach the age of 18.
Elissa Berardi, Germantown Meeting (PA).- Based in seven public elementary schools in inner-city Philadelphia, Imagination Workshop will familiarize students with musical instruments from around the world and provide them with experiences of music as part of daily life. Students will also have the opportunity to attend Philomel concerts.
Lela Betts, Central Philadelphia Meeting.- Designed to maintain and enhance English language skills of 40 ESL students, grades K through 6th, this grant supported a new grassroots summer program.
Lynn Brabazon, Middletown Meeting (Bucks Quarter, PA).- Lynn is an art teacher who will provide 4th grade students an opportunity to study the works and life of Quaker artist Edward Hicks at the Doylestown Museum. With Lynn's guidance students will then paint their own version of Hicks' "Peaceable Kingdom."
Walton Burwell, Germantown Meeting.- Quaker and public school students will be paired together to perform a research project with social, political, economic or educational implications. Students will be assigned to a work site in the community that will contribute to the written report.
Martha Christine, Lehigh Valley Meeting.- Students and teachers will engage in activities to develop an appreciation of cultural, gender and age differences. The focus is on shared learning of peace-making skills by responding to stories and poems. There will be a focus on different cultural and historical settings and on children resolving conflict.
Bernadette Domenick, Uwchlan Meeting (PA).- Discovery Packs will be distributed to kindergarten students encouraging them, their siblings and parents to read together at home. Some of the books and activities will be at the child's independent reading level, while others are meant to enrich and enhance the shared reading experience of children with parents.
George Eastburn, Abington Meeting.- This project is designed to teach Spanish language skills and an understanding of Hispanic cultures to 11th and 12th graders of Widener Memorial School. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of the Cuban government's commitment to equality for all citizens while enduring the U.S. embargo.
Connie Fenty, Middletown Meeting (Bucks).- As a Physical Education teacher, Connie builds upon the peace testimony which leads us to accept conflict as an opportunity for loving engagement with those with whom we disagree. Cooperative games and team building will be incorporated in all grades to develop conflict resolution skills.
Andy Jickling, Green Street Meeting (PA).- This grant will support a second year of the successful Horticulture Club for 9th to 11th graders as an extracurricular activity. Students will gain knowledge and develop an appreciation of the aesthetic and environmental benefits of plants. During the Christmas season, students will take part in the "Rent-a-Tree" program with live evergreens.
On behalf of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, we thank each grant recipient for their outstanding contributions to the children and families in public schools and their energizing ability to show us what can be done to enrich the lives of our young people in public schools. If you or a Friend you know would like to apply for a grant, contact Tom Hoopes, PYM coordinator of education programs, at (215) 241-7224 or tomh@pym.org. The deadline to submit an application is March 1.
Marlene Santoyo
Germantown Meeting (PA)
Co-clerk of Public Education Working Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM