Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
Dr. Mildred Henry
Lyrics of a once popular song said that “we should accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative”. Many of our youth are engaged in great humanitarian endeavors, however, their good works are too often overshadowed in the news media by negative, sensationalized acts of barbarism.
The elementary school scholars at Henry Elementary School in San Bernardino are engaged in a Global Studies program. Recently, 4th and 5th graders researched Global indigenous tribes around the world. They studied tribes such as The Awa in Brasil, The Matses in Brasil, The Wichi in Argentina, The Bushmen in Botswana, The Ogiek in Kenya, The Aboriginal people of Australia, The Batak in the Philippines, The Dongria Kondh of India, and the Siberian Tribes of Russia, among others.
Each scholar presented a major power point film documentary of their research, complete with credits at the end of the film. The young scholars filmed, narrated, and operated all of their equipment. I was absolutely amazed! During the research, scholars found that many native people were in danger of having their lands destroyed. The scholars found a website on international tribal survival, and planned a “Tea for Tribes” to raise funds for tribes that are endangered due to deforestation and loss of resources. Donations were forwarded to help these less fortunate tribes around the globe.
Our youth were giving instead of taking, providing food instead of drugs, making friends and collaborating instead of fighting. The young scholars were smiling and excited rather than sullen and bullying. Their skills and researched knowledge was absolutely “off the charts”! They deserve Kudos for the great humanitarian activities in which they are engaged.
Congratulations to the young Henry Elementary School scholars for their sensitivity, to their superlative principal, Dr. Marcus Funchess, and to the great Henry staff, for truly Accentuating the Positive. They truly live up to their artistic expression, “We are smart, We are Intelligent, We are full of greatness!”
Come on Adults, the children are leading the way. Let’s get on board, reach out and touch, and make this world a better place! We can!
-Mildred Dalton Henry, Ph.D.
