What an honor it was to join Jennifer Lynn, host of
National Public Radio's Morning Edition, at the WHYY studios in Philadelphia. We were talking about the Berlin Wall and the conversations I've been having with students at Science Leadership Academy, Downingtown West, Masterman, and Radnor High about freedom, risks, and responsibilities.
The Berlin Wall is down, but what walls still stand?
Would you risk it all for freedom?
Do you know what you desire?
Given a wall and some cans of paint, what mark would you leave behind?
Given a page, what poem would you write?
What matters most in our lives?
I loved the students I met, the stories they told me, the deep respect these students clearly have for those who nurture and teach them. I am incapable, often, of fully articulating just what my interactions with students and their beautiful librarians and teachers mean to me. Jennifer and Joe Hernandez were exquisitely kind to invite me onto their show and to work with me so that we might tell this story succinctly.
The story will air this morning at 7:45 AM. More on the work of these students and the experience can be found here:
On Teaching the Berlin WallAt Science Leadership Academy:
the Huffington StoryAt Downingtown West:
poems and graffiti artAt Masterman High:
poems and graffiti art At Radnor High:
poems and graffiti art At Radnor High:
photographic outtakesCommon Core Aligned Teacher's GuidePlease go
here to read the teacher's guide for
Going Over, a Berlin Wall novel
Earlier today I traveled to the gorgeous WHYY building in Old City to talk with Jennifer Lynn, gracious host of WHYY FM's Morning Edition, about the students I've been meeting during my Berlin Wall talks.
I'll share a link when the segment goes live. Between now and then, my thanks to Radnor High and those who snapped
these photos of our Friday conversation.And my great thanks to Jennifer and Joe.
(And Ellen T!)
Today I'll return to Radnor High, where I learned the periodic table, Algebra 2, Shakespeare, poetry and a little something about people.
I'll be talking about
Going Over and the Berlin Wall.
I'll also be remembering the Beth of long ago and the Beth of 2010, who stood with the great filmmaker Lee Daniels and others celebrating the school that partly shaped us.
I am deeply grateful that so many Radnor alums have returned to my world in recent years. I continue to learn from them.
With thanks to Molly Carroll Newton, Michelle Wtezel, Fran Misener, and Ellen Tractenberg.
In just a few days the world will turn its eyes to Berlin, which will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall.
In the days to come I'll be taking that story, and GOING OVER, into a series of schools—Downingtown West, Masterman, Radnor, others—to look back, through, over walls. Why was the wall there? What did it mean? What did it do? What stories has it left behind?
Readings and workshops. Conversations and research. A few poems, a few songs, an animation. I look ahead with optimism, as I always do when I am about to meet with teens.
(With thanks to the ever gracious Ellen Trachtenberg for her great help in all of this.)
In the meantime, an utter surprise, Sister Kim of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, will be teaching the book in the third semester this year. A joy for me.
Also in the meantime, unbeknownst to me, GOING OVER was found in the window of the University of Pennsylvania bookstore by a friend not long ago. Thank you, Kathye, for stopping to take this photograph.
