Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Tue, May 14, 2013 @ 08:56 AM
Recently in these pages we have been developing a Guide to School Assemblies. Last time we discussed science programs. Today we will look at shows about history and social studies.
History is boring.
There I said it.
How many times have you heard that?
A lot of times, I would hazard to guess. We all have. History is boring.
Guess what?
Usually the people saying this are the ones who have never really been taught history by someone who knows what they are doing. Fact.
History is not boring. Fact.
Teachers who don't understand how to teach history can make history seem boring, but history itself is far from boring.
Do you think movies are boring? Or theatre? Or television? (well some of it is, heh,heh,heh)
All forms of dramatic entertainment are, on one level, descended from history.
The very earliest forms of entertainment involved cavemen telling stories around the campfire at night, regaling their friends with tales of the recent hunt or battle. In other words, it was a someone telling “his story”.
History.
Every outrageous and exciting and amazing thing that has ever happened is part of history.
And for it to be “not boring” in presentation simply requires someone skilled enough to recognize the dramatic elements and to then tell the story with excitement and dramatic ability.
Storytelling.
That is what history is.
And history is important.
It is impossible to understand the present or the future without understanding the past.
So, we teach history to kids. Sometimes they are taught well and sometimes not. Even when they are taught well, their education can use a little reinforcement.
And so, we have school assemblies that teach history.
And, no, they are not boring. Or, rather, they are not boring when they are done well!
History assemblies for schools come in many flavors and forms.
Sometimes the school show will take the form of a skilled actor impersonating a famous person from the past simply telling their own story. Presidents are always popular, along with other famous public figures, whether from politics, business or science. Depending upon where you live and on what you may or may not have access to, historical school shows may involve Abraham Lincoln or George Washington or Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison or Mark Twain, Martin Luther King or Frederick Douglass, Teddy Roosevelt or Thomas Jefferson. Representing the ladies you will find school shows about Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton and so on. And you will find hybrid shows where the performer takes on different characterizations throughout the show, switching costumes, accents and so on to differentiate between different people.
Regardless of the character, these programs can be amazingly compelling, and serve to really spark children's curiosity to learn more about the person or period.
In these types of programs, the show is usually an actor talking in character, but not always. Sometimes, music is added and the show becomes a mini musical theatre presentation. Lincoln singing about slavery, or Amelia singing about flying, and so on. Not my cup of tea, personally, but some schools love these.
In other school shows, the performer will be less an “actor” and more of an “interpreter”. If you have visited any good living history site you will understand what I mean. There will be a performer in the guise of a character from the past, and usually an unknown or fictional personage (an “everyman”), interpreting the events of that characters life and times. These programs are often the product of Civil War or Colonial War re-enactors, whose dramatic story telling skills may be less than those of true actors, but whose knowledge and enthusiasm is often more than sufficient to make up the difference. Topics will include Civil and Revolutionary periods, Native Americans, programs about local and state history, and a host of others.
The majority of the school shows mentioned so far will be, usually, a man one or one woman show. But, occasionally, these programs are offered by a team, often a husband and wife, and usually portraying a married coupe, such as Abraham and Mary Lincoln.
And then there are theatrical productions that involve entire casts of several actors. But we will discuss these in a later offering on Children's Theatre Productions.
The thing to keep in mind is that school assemblies, spread through the year, offer opportunities to not only break up the humdrum, but also to support the curriculum. Science school shows are great for supporting the science curriculum. Historical shows are equally good at supporting the social studies curriculum.
Within this field, though, beware. Historical assemblies have traditionally provided a welcome source of income for struggling actors. In their wealth of creativity, these actors will produce countless shows about characters and people not necessarily relevant to your schools curriculum. Yes, a show about a 19th century Chinese railroad worker may sound interesting (or not) but is it the best use of resources when the kids are not studying that topic. You need to make that choice yourself.
But, overall, mixing historical assemblies into a slate of other shows featuring science, art, music and character development, makes for a great schedule for the year.
Don't forget your history!
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Thu, May 02, 2013 @ 10:46 AM
Every so often we like to blow our own horn. Who doesn't? And I wanted to quickly share these short reviews we recently received following a couple of programs in different locations.
We are blessed to count among our talented performers Ms. Lluana Jones, who is based in New Jersey. Lluana performs several programs for us. She is a superbly skilled classical mime and usually presents our Young Authors Day and Mime Time programs for us on the East Coast. In addition she is our Eastern representative for our women's history school show They Made a Difference. And she is quite wonderful in all three shows. But her special love is her African American history program entitled The Spirit To Overcome, which is focused on the accomplishments of women of color throughout the history of this great nation. She was recently invited to perform in this program at Swimming River Elementary in Triton Falls, New Jersey. Judging by the response, I would say she was a big hit! But this is no surprise to us as we have long been aware of Lluana's enthusiasm and passion for her work. Here is what the school had to say:
“Our teachers and students enjoyed the assembly. The presenter, not only presented the information so that it was understood by the students but the staff and I really enjoyed it as well. Her voice and mannerism as she explained each character was amazing. At first, I did not know what to expect but she is truly an asset to your company. Thank you for sending her to us. I plan to recommend her to the other schools in my district as well as surrounding districts. Please let her know again how much we enjoyed it.
I am putting the balance of our assembly in the mail this morning. Thank you again. I plan to look into some of your others as well.”
Pretty cool, huh? Lluana is an asset indeed, and we are all very proud of her.
Next up, from a very different part of the country, I'd like to share with you a response from a performance of our awesome Earth Dome (Earth Balloon) school show, out in Illinois. This came to us from the Raymond Grade School in Raymond, Illinois. The performer was our beloved Michael Carrell, who has performed in a number of different roles for us over a good many years. Michael is known and well loved for his great sense of humor and his wonderfully easy going manner. Here is what they thought of him in Raymond.
Overall content – Amazing
Children's Enjoyment – Amazing
Educational Value – Astronomical
Performer Professionalism – Wonderful
Recommend? - Yes
“It was wonderful. Students, Staff, and Parents were very impressed with the Performer..... Thank You! Please give the Performer a Thumbs Up we really enjoyed him!!”
So there you have it. Please excuse our pride in our performers. We work very hard to bring you the very best school assemblies and school shows possible, with the very best school assembly performers. Naturally, it's a nice feeling to be recognized. :-)
So, when can we come and visit your school?
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Wed, May 01, 2013 @ 01:21 PM
When the bombs went off at the Boston Marathon we lost several lives immediately, but we also experienced more than 200 casualties, people wounded or injured in one form or another. Because of the nature of the explosive devices used, many injuries were to the legs of people near the explosions. Some fifteen people lost limbs in the bombing. Celeste Corcoran lost both legs and her daughter, Sydney, was also injured.
This morning NPR ran a piece about Ms. Corcoran that caught my attention. In it, Corcoran spoke about the horror of learning she would lose both legs, and how that affected her outlook on life. What I found utterly amazing was her retelling of how within days she was visited by a U.S. Marine by the name of Gabe Martinez, a veteran of Afghanistan who lost both legs from injuries similar to those sustained by her. Martinez belongs to a group of amputees called the Semper Fi Fund, who take it upon themselves to counsel injured servicemen. “Steady as a rock” on prosthetic legs, Martinez was able to uplift her spirits and prove to her that she would not only recover all aspects of her abilities, but in some ways actually be better than before.
The entire story was emotionally charged on several levels, from her confessed trauma over her own injuries combined with the worry about her daughter, to the selfless gallantry of the Marine in volunteering to assist. There are still real heroes in this world.
But, on another level, I came away with more than that. I came away with a new appreciation for the myriad ways in which technology has risen to our aid during the wars in the Middle East, in terms of coping with the after effects of war, but also in translating those advances into benefits for our entire society.
The recent brutal wars in which our country has engaged have produced a staggering and horrific number of injuries which in previous encounters would have proven fatal but from which our servicemen and women are now not only surviving, but, in many cases, going on to lead normal and productive lives. Advances in medical procedures, along with corresponding advances in technology, have saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives. The technology now available, in terms of replacing lost limbs, is utterly amazing and quite staggering in light of the compressed time frame in which these advances have occurred.
As an amateur historian, I am well aware that amputations have always been a horrible side product of war. In the Civil War more lives were lost in the hospitals than in battle itself, due in large part to the lack of knowledge available at the time dealing with how to handle wounds. The simple and most often employed procedure for arm and leg wounds was amputation. At the end of the war thousands of young men (the ones who did survive) returned to their homes hobbling along on crutches and a missing limb. Even World War One produced a staggering number of similarly deformed survivors.
But today, due to awesome advances in technology, the option is available to amputees to not only replace missing limbs with new prosthetic limbs, but limbs which sometimes are capable of performance superior to that of the natural limb they replace. Amazing.
Here is a link to the NPR piece.
And here is one to an article about the Marines who give their time to help.
And lastly, since this is a school assembly company blog, here is the obligatory “pitch”. :-)
With so many careers projected in future years in the fields that produce these advances – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, educators are pushing for an expanded presence in American education featuring these fields. In response, Mobile Ed has created The STEM Museum, a day long, hands on school assembly event for elementary and middle schools designed to expose students at an early age to the wonders and complexities of these fields in a way that will motivate them to pursue further education, and possible career choices. We are extremely proud and excited about this new school program and feel certain our client schools will share out enthusiasm. Have a look and see if we can bring this amazing program to your school. Maybe, in a few years, it will be these children of today producing the breakthrough advances of tomorrow. End of pitch. :-)
In the meantime, please visit the links above and learn about the ordeal of Ms. Corcoran and her family, and also about the heroism of the Marines who assisted her. It is a story that needs to be told, and one in which you will undoubtedly find inspiration. I know I did.
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Thu, Apr 25, 2013 @ 06:56 PM
A mere two weeks ago we announced our newest school assembly program, The STEM Museum. We must have touched a nerve. Already the tour for the 2013-2014 school year is experiencing overwhelming demand. In fact this awesome new school show is getting close to being sold out in the Midwest and East and West coast dates are close behind. Only a few dates remain available for Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Illinois. In some states we have only one or no dates left at all.
And small wonder.
With fifteen different learning stations, most featuring hands on activities, and all supporting the curriculum in science, technology, engineering and math, this is going to be a powerhouse experience for any school. Supported by professionally produced video on flat screen monitors scattered around the museum, along with thoroughly engaging activities for all grades K-8, The STEM Museum will rock. It will rock.
With so many projected careers of the next few decades centered in these fields, STEM education has become the number one priority among educational professionals, and is supported by a myriad of new initiatives across the nation. Schools are becoming STEM academies. Local and state government officials are lobbying for greater emphasis on STEM teaching. And your school can be right at the front line of this important drive.
The STEM Museum is touring right across the nation in 2013-2014, and will likely be passing through your neighborhood. A tour de force of technology with 3D printing, robotics and much, much more, The STEM Museum will be way beyond anything you have experienced before. And your students will not only be dazzled, they will be motivated. So, don't be left out. Don't find yourself faced with another year of boring magic shows. Dates for this important new school program will be gone by June. Now is the time to reserve yours.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Mon, Apr 22, 2013 @ 09:36 AM
Happy Earth Day!
Today, April 22, 2013 is the day we celebrate Earth awareness, and join with people all over the world to reaffirm our commitment to protecting the environment in which we live.
First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day has grown into a world wide phenomenon, and is celebrated for an entire week by many communities.
With so many environmental issues today (global warming, plastic in the oceans, oil spillages), there is much about which to raise awareness, and great need for action.
Here at Mobile Ed we are doing our bit, too. With several school shows perfectly suited to Earth day events, we are very busy today!
Our Earth Dome (aka The Earth Balloon) program is dazzling kids in several states today, including New York, Michigan, Illinois and California. Our Changing Climate is hard at work in New York. And our natural science school shows Animals and the Environment and The Circle of Life are active in Illinois and New York.
For schools looking to add a little zing to their celebrations of this week, a school show such as The Earth Dome or Our Changing Climate can be a perfect solution.
If you are missing out on this kind of excitement at your school this year, now is the time to make plans for next year. But don't wait too long. Special dates on the calendar such as Earth Day are always popular and will fill in quickly.
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Tue, Apr 16, 2013 @ 10:09 AM
Recently in these pages we have been developing a Guide to School Assemblies. Last time we discussed pure entertainment programs. Today we will look at science shows.
We all know how important science is to the future of our children. As evidenced by the proliferation of STEM initiatives across the country, educators nationwide are extremely cognizant of the need to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math because this is where the career of the future lie!
Science, technology, engineering and math are the four components of STEM education, and together they provide the keys to the future of our nation. No wonder there is a push to beef up education in these critical areas. Here at Mobile Ed, we have not been standing still either, and are meeting demand for STEM based education with our new STEM Museum.
But in the world of educational school assemblies and school shows, science assemblies are nothing new. Mobile Ed helped to pioneer this field back in 1979, and has consistently led the pack in producing high quality, educational science based assemblies ever since.
So what do we mean by a science assembly or a science school show?
Well, there are several different forms available.
First, let us look at a basic school science show. The traditional format , which still works wonderfully today, involves a large group of students (usually) seated on the floor in the gym while a presenter in front performs, often with assistance from various audience members, various science based demonstrations. The program may be a general educational program drawing examples and demonstrations from numerous science segments, or it may be a very specific genre, dealing with one set area of science.
An example of the former, from our own catalog, would be The Magic of Science, where demonstrations take place using material from chemistry, physics, math and so on. Because these types of programs may take material from any area of science they have the advantage of often being very fast paced and exciting. In a mixed bag such as this the programs may shift rapidly from one area of science to another constantly engaging students with something new and different. However, they also have a downside. Educational programs that try to take in too wide a swath of content must, by necessity, reduce the detail with which any one section is explained.
On the other hand, we have very specific science programs that tackle just one area of science but do so with exacting specificity. Examples here, again from our catalog, would be Chemistry! It Really Matters! Or Forces and Motion. In these instances, one small portion of science is delved into in detail, allowing for a far more nuanced approach, with greater attention to that particular area of study. In the case of our Chemistry show, the core content of the program is designed to highlight the three essential states of matter – solid , liquid and gas – through demonstrations that not only make clear the distinctions but are also a lot of fun. In Forces and Motion, the program focuses on Newton's first three laws of motion with some additional material about gravity and centrifugal force. Again, a very specific area, allowing the program to meet many state standards.
Of course, there are many performers and companies offering science programs within the format described above. However, the second component of science assemblies is not as widely available. Here we are speaking of hands on workshops.
There is an old quote sometimes attributed to Ben Franklin and other times to Confucius, that says” Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Well to remember this when discussing the value of hands on workshops. Mobile Ed may well have been the first company to provide a hands on science experience when we began offering hands on workshops as part of our science show packages back in the early 1980's. Essentially, in a hands on workshop, the students are given the opportunity to actually be involved in the actual science experiments. The value cannot be ignored.
In some instances where hands on activities are offered as part of an educational science show at a school, small groups of students will work one on one with a presenter, who provides the materials and direct instruction and guidance. From our catalog of educational shows, such workshops are available with our physics program, our chemistry show as well as our program on Thomas Edison.
However, more recently, a new form of workshop has come into being. With the traditional small group format, it was usually impossible to offer workshops to more than a handful of classes. The newer format solves that problem allowing for an entire school to participate.
Various providers of educational science shows now offer what we term a “museum” style format of workshops. Here, a large array of different hands on displays are arranged around a large space such as a gym. In addition to the company representative, the school provides a number of parent volunteers. Students are then invited into the “museum” for a period of time in groups of 60-65 at a time and allowed to “play” at whichever station they choose, much as they would if on a field trip to a science museum.
Mobile Ed currently offers two such programs – Physics is Fun and Kidz Science Safari, and will in the Fall of 2013 begin performances with our newest addition to this lineup, The STEM Museum. Other companies offer similar products. Judging by the demand for programs such as these, and from the reactions we receive, the format is a wild success, and a sign of the future of educational science assemblies in general.
Beyond these two basic forms of science shows, there are other more specific types, such as mobile planetariums and natural science programs. More on these in future installments.
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Thu, Apr 11, 2013 @ 10:06 AM
In case you have been living under a rock, the most important new initiative in education is the focus on STEM. No, this isn't about stem cells, or plants. S.T.E.M. Is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. A large majority of future careers are projected to fall within these four categories and the race is on to prepare our young people for an exciting new world.
In keeping with that new and important thrust, our newest school assembly is quite unlike anything we have done before. Oh, sure, we have always had science programs and still do, really great ones. And we have a Math show currently (Imathimation). We have covered technology for years with Our World of Robotics in the past and more recently with Lights Camera Action. But we have never tried to do it all under one banner. And to make sure we did it right we have really gone all out this time.
The STEM Museum will be a day long event, featuring 15 different display and hands on activities. There will be no assembly per se. rather, we will set up a massive series of displays and activity centers arrayed around your gym or multi purpose room. Up to eight different time slots will be scheduled during the day, each lasting between 30 and 45 minutes, and allowing for groups of 20-70 students at a time to browse from activity to activity at their leisure. The activities will be state of the art. Flat screen televisions positioned around the room will provide professionally produced running scientific content supporting the various stations. And the stations are awesome!From 3D printing and robotics to geometric activity stations and even including a 7' tall arch kids can construct as a team, there is really something for everyone.
The STEM Museum promises to be the single most exciting school program Mobile Ed has ever produced, and you will not want to miss out.
But one caveat, though. The tour for The Stem Museum is already in place and has the show traveling from the east Coast all across the country and ending the 2013-2014 school year in California. We will visit a lot of states. But as a result, the dates available in any one state are extremely limited. If you would like to secure a date for this awesome event at your school we strongly urge you to call soon before all the dates are filled.
Welcome to the world of STEM!
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Mon, Apr 08, 2013 @ 07:01 AM
Recently in these pages we have been developing a Guide to School Assemblies. Today we will begin looking at all the different types of shows that are available, starting with something fun, the entertainers.
Entertainment is to be expected as a component of most all school assembly programs. But the exact definition of entertainment if flexible in this regard. Obviously, a comedian (if he is funny) is going to be entertaining. But in a different way, a purely educational documentary can also qualify as entertaining if it is engaging. So, regardless of the degree of educational value, we anticipate that all good school shows will be entertaining on some level. However, there are some occasions that may warrant a show that is totally entertaining and has no educational value whatsoever.
Now, as a company that creates shows that always have educational value, we tend to think that even on these occasions a show that does still contribute to advancing education is a better choice. We nonetheless acknowledge that not everyone feels this way. Sometimes a clown or a magician is exactly want you want. Fair enough. Halloween might be just such an occasion, or right before Christmas. Following a week of testing is another time a PTO might want to employ a show that is nothing but a happy lark.
For such moments the world is full of shows and entertainers happy to oblige. Magicians can be found in almost all markets, with a large sliding scale of rates and abilities, to suit almost any budget. Clowns are also usually easily found. There are wonderfully exciting shows available featuring teams of BMX bike riders who are extremely adept at performing daredevil tricks. There are jugglers and Yo-Yo guys and puppets and just about everything else you can imagine.
Now, just a word to the wise regarding entertainers.
Just as we here at Mobile Ed feel that many of our educational programs also make for good entertainment, there are also plenty of great entertainers who feel that they are also educators. Sometimes this is true. Sadly, often it is not.
The market for programs that are purely entertaining has diminished dramatically over time. Partly this is because schools are now so pressured to deliver, that taking time, any time, for a show that does not advance the curriculum, has become a very hard sell. Moreover, it has become apparent to teachers and parents alike that the wealth of high quality educational programs available that are also extremely entertaining removes the need for programs that do not deliver in both areas.
So, for the performer who makes his living performing school shows, it has become essential to market themselves as providers of programs that are educational. Consequently, we now find a phenomenon we refer to as “Magic Shows in Drag”.
No, this is nothing to do with cross-dressing.
Rather, the term refers to a program that is one thing while pretending to be another. In this case, the term refers to a show which is really a pure entertainment program masquerading as one with educational value. It might be a magic show pretending to be a science show.
“Watch this, kids!"
(insert magic trick – follow with appropriate oohs and ahhs)
"That is pure science! Cool, huh?"
(no explanation of the trick given)
"Now, for my next trick … er... I mean … experiment!... etc”
Or, it might be a juggler masquerading as an anti bullying show, or a BMX bike show pretending to be a self esteem program and so on.
Often, these entertainers are so good at the entertainment side of things and so much fun to watch, that the average audience does not realize they are being conned, and that the curriculum value is virtually nil. That is what the performer counts on. If they do a really fun show no one will notice it has no nutritional value at all. That is a Magic Show in Drag.
We have nothing against good entertaining shows. We love a laugh as much as anyone. Really!
But when a school is spending their hard earned money for a science program, we feel they should get a science program. Truth in advertising, you know?
So, how do you make sure you are not booking a "Magic Show in Drag"? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. But there are usually some clues to look for.
If you are looking at a brochure or a website, and the same individual offers both educational and entertainment programs, that may be a bad sign. If you are looking at a performer who is obviously available as a magician but also offers science, that may be a bad sign. If the stretch from the entertainment skill to the educational content promised seems pretty remote, it may be a bad sign, An example of this would be a juggler teaching chemistry, perhaps, or a Yo Yo guy teaching math. Usually, a little common sense goes a long way.
My Dad always used to say that he didn't go to a pancake restaurant for a steak and he didn't go to a steak house for breakfast.
In most cases, the same may safely be said for school assembly programs.
If you are looking for a science show, look for a company or provider that specializes in science shows. If you are looking for a magician hire a magician.
We like pancakes and we like steaks. We just want to be sure that when we order the one we don't get served the other.
We recommend you try to do the same thing.
Bon Appetit!
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Thu, Apr 04, 2013 @ 09:15 AM
Today was a pretty momentous day in history. What do you know about what happened on April 4 in past times? If you are like most Americans, the answer is probably not much. Which is sad. I know that many Americans think history is boring. We are so busy rushing headlong into the future, we find little time to think about what is past. But that is not only sad, it is tragic.
Today in 1841 President Harrison died after only a month in office. Today in 1865, the rebel capital of Richmond, Virginia fell into the hands of United States forces, hastening the end of the Civil War. Today in 1968, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was brutally and tragically assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
Did you know all those things?
It has often been said that those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. And that makes sense. How can you possibly understand fully not only where you are going, but why, if you have no real understanding of where you have been?
But on another level, teaching history is really no different than telling a story, and storytelling is the single most enduring and ancient form of entertainment in human existence. From the cavemen gathered around a fire retelling of the bear hunt, to the latest forms of electronic entertainment, to the guy at the water cooler telling a joke, every human has probably engaged in storytelling at some point.
And history is full of the most amazing stories. So, why is it that so many people find history boring? Because of how the stories are told. Any comedian can tell you it isn't the joke that is funny, but how you tell it. The same is true for storytelling. We all know people who simply cannot tell a story well to save their life. How many times have you heard some friend of yours retelling a great story that you told to them, only to have to suffer through a butchered version that left out the good points and reshuffled the order so as to destroy the drama or humor?
There is an art to story telling and, by extension, there is an art to teaching history.
Let's take a look at one of the events mentioned above, the fall of Richmond.
Okay … the rebels fled Richmond and the war was almost over. Cool. Everyone knows the rest of this story. A few days later Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Most people would leave it at that. No wonder most people think history is boring. Try this version instead:
After four long years of war that had taken a heavy toll on the nation and on it's president, and after a particularly grueling and bloody endgame lasting months in which US forces laid siege to the beleaguered rebel capital, the end was drawing near. President Lincoln, a gaunt, hollowed out memory of the strapping man who had entered Washington four years earlier, was eager to see the end. He had come to the headquarters of General Grant some two weeks earlier, and sensing that the end was indeed finally ear he had remained, in the company of his youngest son, Tad. On April 3 the city of Richmond finally fell. What was left of the rebel forces fled, along with almost the entire population of white southerners living there. The following day, on April 4, a vessel carrying the president, his son and a few sailors, made it's way up the river toward the city. It landed and the president, impatiently unwilling to await soldiers to guard him, stepped ashore, accompanied only by his son and a handful of sailors. Without fanfare, he began to walk through the newly deserted city. But soon, some newly freed African American women recognized him. They ran to him and bowed but the thin president told them “... to kneel only to God and thank him for the freedom you will hereafter enjoy.”
He then walked on through the empty streets, but in his wake a crowd of African Americans began to grow and follow him. He saw the Libby Prison, where so many captured American troops had languished and suffered. He walked to the residence of the rebel leader, Jefferson Davis. And he walked to the Virginia Statehouse where he visited the chambers of the rebel congress. All the while, his son Tad strolling next to his father holding his hand.
As he left the statehouse he found himself now faced with an enormous throng of awestruck African Americans, newly released from bondage by masters that had fled suddenly the day before. Now, into their midst came the very leader of the country, the very man many held singly responsible for their new liberty. Not surrounded by a massive and terrifying army, but essentially alone but for the small boy holding his father's hand. For a moment, the tall man and the silent crowd regarded each other. What went through the minds of those present that day? What thoughts passed through the minds of those in that crowd. What passed through the mind of the man himself?
A few days later, President Lincoln went to the the theatre, and the world was never the same again.
Now, was that boring?
Try hearing that story told by President Lincoln himself, in front of a crowd of young students. You can hear a pin drop at such a moment. And they will never forget that story.
That is the power of good storytelling.
That is the power, educationally, of good school assembly programs. Whether it is Abraham Lincoln, or Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Edison or the delightful Benjamin Franklin, a good story teller can make history as exciting as the latest Hollywood action flick.
So, when can we come and help your kids discover the excitement of history?
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.
Posted by Geoff Beauchamp on Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 08:04 PM
In our continuing series, a Mobile Ed Guide to School Assemblies, we offer assistance to you, the parent, who has been given the unsung task of selecting and arranging shows for the children at your school. And, in this series, we attempt to answer all the questions you may have or may not have even considered yet as you approach this job.
Today we will take a look at teachers. (Now, if the reader happens to be a teacher, understand we have to mention a few negatives but we will make up for it in the end. We promise.)
The first thing to remember about teachers is that they are people, just like anyone else. They have lives outside of schools, and they have wants and needs of their own, quite beyond whether or not your little Suzy or Johnny does well. They have good days and bad days. They eat, sleep (when they have time) and have needs just like yours. And they are under a lot of pressure these days. A lot. Moreover, just like everyone else, there are good teachers and bad, and there are those that care about their students, those that care way more than anyone has a right to expect, and those that don't much care at all. Usually the latter are a very small minority but they can be a challenge.
Knowing this is important for all parents, but it is especially important for you, the school assembly coordinator to remember.
Why?
Well, because you will likely need them. And it is best that they be on your side.
A conscientious parent, approaching the task of selecting school assemblies, will likely want to canvass the teachers for some ideas on what they would like to see, and on what they think would be of benefit to the students.
When you do this, be prepared for a variety of reactions.
Some teachers will offer absolutely no opinion at all. On the other hand, some will positively bombard you with suggestions. Some suggestions will be really good. Other suggestions will be terrible (or may just seem so). Just like principals, about whom we spoke in the last installment, some teachers will not like or want assemblies at all, feeling that assemblies and shows are a pure waste of valuable time they should have with their class in the classroom. Be understanding in such cases. First, teachers are under tremendous pressure to make sure their students perform, and they guard their time jealously. There is a lot to teach and barely enough time to do so, even under the best of circumstances. Also, it is good to recall that many teachers, especially veterans, will likely have already seen a vast number of assemblies (sometimes having seen the same one on multiple occasions) and, of those, undoubtedly, a positively huge number were worthless at best and tragically terrible at worst. There are, after all, a lot of truly bad school shows on the market. No one needs to pass a test to stand up and do a school show. And far too many performers are much better at selling themselves than they are at doing their shows. Teachers can, understandably, sometimes lose hope of ever seeing anything worthwhile at all. Sitting through yet another really bad clown act can put anyone off their game. Not to mention bad magicians. Trust me, many times we have visited schools and been practically mobbed by teachers who were just so grateful and relieved that our show, unlike the past sixteen, was actually really good!
But then, sadly, there are those teachers who just never like anything, regardless of whether it is good, great or bad. Some people just cannot be pleased. Ever.
As a result, even leaving aside those who may be against school shows on principle, there will always be others who will offer no help because they have just given up and resigned themselves to wasting 45 minutes every now and then on a show in which they have no interest at all.
But there is another group entirely to consider. There are those teachers who love assemblies, but for the wrong reason. For these individuals, there is never enough time to get all their extra work done. The grading and the classroom preparations and so on. For them, assemblies are greeted with joy not because of the show (they will not even pay attention to it in the slightest), but because they can, for that 45 minutes while the show is playing, sit and grade papers, or prepare the next assignment. The sad aspect to this group is that their lack of interest can be infectious. Talk to any performer and they will tell you that some audiences are good while others are bad. In a school situation, the "bad" audience is sometimes that way as a result of school staff who do not view assemblies as worth their attention. Kids are perceptive. If the adults are not paying attention why should they?
Your job, or part of it at least, is to get them to pay attention. To pick shows that are so "over the top" wonderful that they cannot be ignored. Your job is to demonstrate to these hard working and calloused teachers that there are, indeed, some very good, often excellent and sometimes positively brilliant school enrichment programs that they will like, even love, and from which their students will receive extraordinary, awesome benefit.
Oh, there is another type as well. Beware. These are the teachers who will feel that you, as a parent, are never going to do as good a job at picking shows as they could. There is always someone in every crowd who just knows they can do a better job than whatever person is actually doing that job. These individuals will either shower you with too much of both wanted and unwanted advice, or, worse still, remain silent when you need their help, and then proceed to criticize everything you do behind your back. All I can say is be prepared, and have a tough skin.
In some schools, parents have even relinquished all of their interest in picking enrichment programs, and simply allocated funding to the teachers to allow them to pick programs themselves. Actually, this is frequently the case. Sometimes it works well. Really well. But at other times the result is a little sad as some schools in this boat find that, once the teachers are in charge, they lose interest in doing anything at all. Sad.
But, if this is not the case at your school, and you are still responsible as a parent for arranging the shows yourself, it is wise to at least try to find out what the teachers might like.
Despite all that we have said so far, thankfully, there will be many, many really nice, smart, caring teachers. In fact, joyously, and despite all odds considering the long hours, low pay and extreme pressure, in most schools, these teachers will be the majority. They are saints. They will understand what you are doing, want you to succeed, and will try to help in positive and non-judgmental ways. The vast majority of teachers with whom we have dealt over the years are extremely caring and hardworking people who put in excessively long and often thankless hours just trying to make sure your child has the chance to excel. Make sure you thank them! They earn it every day.
Try to seek out their input on areas where their students may need assistance or some kind of boost. Are math scores down? What about social studies? Could science or writing use a boost? Maybe something purely fun to give a treat as a reward for a job well done? Whatever it is, take notes. Speak to as many as you can personally. Take their opinions seriously. Get a feel for the overall trend. Get a consensus. They are on the front line, right there in the trenches every day, and their experience and knowledge can and will be invaluable as you try to get a feel for what kind of shows to look for, and to piece together the very best programs you can for your school and your kids.
After all, that is the goal, right?
Next time we will start to look at how to search out the shows you want.
Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.