$15,000 Awarded to Rudyard Area Schools to Record, Learn About Local History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 27, 2008
CONTACT: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer,
shirko [at] mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25
also in PDF
(RUDYARD)----The Michigan Humanities Council today awarded a $15,000 grant to the Rudyard Area Schools for the project, Expanding Our Boundaries with Experiential Humanities. The grant is part of the Council’s Michigan People, Michigan Places … Our Stories, Our Lives program, which supports community collaboration for public humanities programs. The grant was presented at the Rudyard Town Hall to the Rudyard Historical Society and members of the Rudyard Area school board. The event included presentations by the offices of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, and U.S. Representative Bart Stupak.
“This unique project creates important opportunities for students of all ages to become engaged in a variety of exercises to learn and write about their local history and the history of Michigan,” stated Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “The Michigan Humanities Council is pleased to support the development of this educational program.”
This literature project will create an opportunity for rural, Eastern Upper Peninsula students to explore new ideas and cultures by writing and illustrating beginner reader books. Local history and geography will serve as a focus for creating books that meet Michigan’s curricular requirements. Rudyard middle school students will create 300 books for beginning readers using people, places, and events that are meaningful to the local beginning readers. The Rudyard high school photography class will take pictures of the relevant places, people, and things. Local author Sean Fountain will also create a set of books focused on urban Michigan places, history, and people. Teachers will incorporate both sets of books into the classroom learning so beginning readers can compare and contrast and broaden their perspectives. The books are scheduled to be completed by November 2008; an exhibit of the stories will be held as part of Rudyard elementary school’s Fine Arts Night in December 2008.
Juanita Steiker, parent of two elementary school students at Rudyard Area Schools, stated: "I think the boys will really enjoy reading books that show familiar things. I'm excited about the project. The interview [with the scholar] was good, we just shared stories and talked about reading. I think it's a great idea."
“As a long time supporter of the humanities in the U.S. Senate, I am pleased to learn that these funds will be used for such an innovative project,” said U.S. Senator Carl Levin in a letter presented to Rudyard Area Schools Superintendent Nathan Bootz. “I applaud the efforts of the Rudyard Area Schools in enhancing your students educational experiences and wish you all the very best on this project.”
“Grants from the Michigan Humanities Council help Michigan communities study and preserve the state’s unique culture and heritage,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. “I am pleased to be able to support funding for the council and for these important local community projects.”
The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is a private, non-profit organization, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information, please visit: www.michiganhumanities.org or call 517-372-7770.
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