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Quotes
From Participants Involved in the OMI/EXCELSIOR Living Library
& Think Park
Richard
Madison
- age 13, 7th Grade Student, James Denman Middle School, "A
Living Library
is a place where I can learn and relax at the same time."
David Yee
- age 9 1/2, 4th Grade Student, San Miguel Child Development Center,
"I feel that
A
Living Library
is everything that we create with nature and gardens, buildings,
and pieces of art work. And we should make it beautifully, so
it could be a peaceful place. I feel again that there's lots of
things of a part of A
Living Library.
We work hard to make things change with dirt into flowers."
Jill Wynns
- Commissioner, San Francisco Board of Education, "A
Living Library
is one of the most exciting and meaningful education initiatives
in our district. The ability to integrate multiple ways of learning
while enriching the environment is exactly what all students need.
Teachers and curriculum developers benefit enormously from participating
in this effort. This project should be a high priority for everyone
dedicated to evolving the next steps in cross-disciplinary education
for the future."
Linda Davis
- Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District, "A
Living Library
represents a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage
in active learning by taking an ecological setting and integrating
it into the curriculum. It provides authentic learning experiences
for students that will motivate them to high levels of academic
achievement, particularly in reading, mathematics and science."
Arthur
Francis
- age 15, 9th Grade Student, Balboa High School, "A
Living Library
is important because it helps nature because birds come into the
garden and eat food. The plants supply the food for the birds
and worms and stuff. If people came and looked at it, they would
probably like it too."
Debbie
Servantes
- age 11, 6th Grade Student, James Denman Middle School, "Whenever
I go to The
Living Library
I feel so free. I forget all of my stuff and talk with my friends
and most of all gardening. I think gardening is cool because you
get to see insects you have never seen and flowers you have never
seen. The
Living Library
is about different stuff like computers and everything."
Elaine
T. Koury
- Executive Director of Information, San Francisco Unified School
District,
"The
Living Library & Think Park
concept represents an attempt to look at education in a different
way. This work speaks to the urgent need to rethink the way we
educate our children."
Charles
O'Neill-Jones III
- age 12, 7th Grade Student, James Denman Middle School,
"The
Living Library
reflects us, our life, our earth, and her children."
Layla Sollenberger
- age 14, 8th Grade Student, James Denman Middle School, "For
one thing,
A Living Library
is going to help us learn about what was here before all the buildings,
and it will help us live longer with the oxygen we're getting
from the trees that we are planting, not to mention how beautiful
it is. It's here, not just for our generation, but for the generations
to come."
Rosemary
Cambra
- Chairwoman, Muwekma Ohlone Indian Tribe, "On November 12, 1999,
the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal representatives and staff were invited
to give a slide presentation about our history, heritage and culture
to classes attending the James Denman Middle School. Afterwards,
Ms. Bonnie Sherk shared with us the scope of work that seeks to
integrate environmental and cultural issues into the curriculum
as a working outdoor laboratory and Living
Library
(especially as it seeks to identify and restore endemic species
of plants, habitat restoration and how our aboriginal culture
related to the natural environment). After a tour of the area
and assessment of the educational plans, I, as the Chairwoman
of the Muwekma Tribe have decided to fully endorse Ms. Sherk's
efforts and would like to establish a reciprocal relationship
between the school(s) and educational project via Ms. Sherk and
our tribe. I would also like to explore ways by which members
of our tribe can get involved with this project and formulate
strategies that support such important mutually educational endeavors.
Finally, we want to thank the school administration and the school
district and Ms. Sherk for all of their efforts and sensitivities
for contacting us and inviting our participation, especially for
the forthcoming tree planting-dedication and blessing ceremony
scheduled for December 2."
Rafael
Urbinana
- age 13, 7th Grade Student, James Denman Middle School, "I think
what we are doing in The
Living Library
is good for us and the world."
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