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 "I teach First Grade in the only Pre-K to First Grade public school in New York City. My classroom is housed in a trailer. Our South Bronx neighborhood is, needless to say, one of the poorest in the city.
There is very little family celebration of 6-and 7-year old birthdays. In the past, I hav... " MORE "I teach First Grade in the only Pre-K to First Grade public school in New York City. My classroom is housed in a trailer. Our South Bronx neighborhood is, needless to say, one of the poorest in the city.
There is very little family celebration of 6-and 7-year old birthdays. In the past, I have bought each of my 20 children a birthday cake. Some of my fellow teachers tell me to save the money, but I think the cost is offset by the looks on the kids' faces.
I would very much like to have a full size, old-fashioned "movie theater" popcorn machine to celebrate their special days. I would also like to have a helium tank balloon inflater. (I will fund the popcorn kernels and balloons, but if someone would like to donate a year's supply of popcorn and balloons, it would be all the more appreciated.)
The equipment, popcorn and balloons would be shared by the teachers of the 500 children in our school's Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade classes. As a secondary community-builder, they could be enlisted to boost teacher morale by being used to celebrate teacher anniversaries in our hard-to-staff school.
In addition (and very importantly), the popcorn and balloon machines would also be used to raise funds for class trips. Fifty cents for a bag of popcorn or a balloon at Friday Fundraisers could help raise enough funds to enable the teachers of our 15 classes to bring 500 children to the Museum of Natural History, the Planetarium, or the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan (not all at once!). In essence, what seems like merely popcorn and balloons could help a child remember one special birthday, boost teacher/school spirit, build a sense of school community, and possibly inspire (no kidding here) a future Goya, Hawkes, or Margaret Mead.
They say a child never forgets a First Grade teacher. If I'm granted a popcorn machine and some balloons, my kids will never forget their First Grade birthdays.
A Popcorn popper and helium tank for balloons will cost $1813, including shipping and fulfillment. HIDELive Updates
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Phil A. (staff member)
on Jan 19, 2004
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