November 25, 2009

Hillendale Elementary School fourth-graders used some 21^st
century technology to learn about 20^th century history last week.

With all three classes of fourth-graders assembled in the
large group instruction room at the school on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 20,
nine of the 69 students got to question Lecia J. Brooks about the civil rights
movement. Brooks is the director of Civil Rights Memorial Center at the
Southern Poverty law center in Montgomery, Ala.

The bulk of the questions centered around Rosa Parks and the
Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Some of the things they learned was that Parks was not the
first person who refused to give up her seat to a white person when asked and
that even white supporters of the boycott–that lasted 381 days from December
1955 to December 1956–were harassed and had homes bombed.

One student, Eric, said he learned that police in Birmingham
would falsely charge whites that supported the boycott.

“I learned a lot about the boycott, like how policemen would
fine people for things they didn’t do,” he said.

Another student, Timothy, said he learned that supporters
had their homes bombed “even though they were just not riding the bus.”

Despite occasional audio glitches, the entire group of
students, not just the nine asking the questions, seemed eager to hear the
historic background from Brooks.

Todd Picard, one of the fourth-grade teachers, said the idea
for the project came about during the regular social studies curriculum where
students learn about the regions of the country.

“We are currently studying the southeast region and one of
the places we talk about is Montgomery, Alabama. In that discussion we talk
about Rosa Parks and the bus boycott that took place as a result of not giving
up her seat to a white man,” said Picard.

He said the idea for the videoconferencing came while he was
thinking about ways to incorporate the use of technology.

“I thought that videoconferencing with somebody in each
region would give the kids a chance to interact with a primary source and give
the lessons we teach more real world application,” Picard added.

Skype and the Internet are not the only technology Picard
uses. He also uses computer technology to help the kids learn how to make
movies and podcasts along with word processing and Internet research.

Picard uses technology to teach “everything from math facts
to states of the country, capitals. … Technology has played a huge part in what
I do with my kids educationally.”

Friday’s videoconference was the first time the students
used Skype–a technology that incorporates the Internet with a computer’s
built-in camera, microphone and speakers–though Picard has used it on his own.

The project came as a result of an e-mail Picard sent to the
Civil Rights Memorial Center. Picard said he received a direct reply from
Brooks and after several weeks of communication, the date was set.

The goal, he said, was to get the kids to “come away from
this activity with a better understanding of the Civil Right Movement and the
struggle African Americans faced in this country,” Picard said.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Instead of staying out of the rain on a raw and drizzly
November afternoon, five members of Girl Scout Troop 41535–and two of their
leaders–spent time making some additions to the new Birmingham Trail along
Meetinghouse Road in Birmingham Township.

The girls took on a Bronze Award project to put up seven
birdhouses along the trail. Co-leader Amy Hughes said the installation of the
birdhouses completes the project they started last year.

Hughes said the Bronze Award is the highest award junior
Girl Scouts can receive.”

She added that they learned the trail could use the
birdhouses from a contact in Birmingham Township.

“Someone … who was on a board in Birmingham Township said
there was a need to publicize the walking trail. So we went to a few township
meetings and asked what we could do,” said Hughes. “The girls had to do some
proposals at the township meetings and they learned a lot about democracy.”

Valerie Oehler, the other co-leader for the group said, “The
girls made the birdhouses and had to research how to make them.”

She added that it was a father/daughter project with the
dads helping with the construction.

The girls, Sara Beth Johnson, Jessica Oehler, Katie Dempsey,
Annie Dempsey and Kathryn Hughes–along with their two co-leaders–put up the
seven houses on Monday, Nov. 23.

All the girls are seventh-graders.

Katie Dempsey said the project
is significant because the birds need the houses. “I guess we’re kind of making
the birds happy.”

Her sister Annie Dempsey said,
“[The project] means a lot because we’re helping birds out and making them
happier.”

Sara Beth Johnson sees the
project from a different perspective: “We’re helping the community and making
it prettier. And that makes me happy.”

Jessica Oehler said the
project was “cool because there’s a lot of nature out here and it adds to the
scenery and makes it pretty.”

Kathryn Hughes said, “I think
[the project] will make people happy because you can walk down the whole path
and see a lot of pretty stuff. And if they want to they can take pictures.”

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Casper is an adult neutered male domestic short hair white
cat that is available for adoption through the Chester County SPCA. Casper came to the shelter on Sept. 8 as a stray. He is
a very laid back kind of guy who is looking for a new lap to curl up in and has
tons of love to give while receiving the love and attention he needs. If
you are able to provide that home, visit the Chester County SPCA at 1212
Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call 610-692-6113. Casper’s registration
number is 96796609. To look at some of the other animals available for
adoption, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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