Traveling to Fayetteville,  Eastern North Carolina
Residency, January 7-11, 2008
Examplesofschools
For the thirteenth year in a row, Doreyl and I have traveled to Fayetteville, N.C. to conduct workshops and performances within the school system. Funded by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County and the schools, the week-long residencies have included most all grades, with storytelling and spontaneous artwork preformances that played to student body audiences.
        During a January 2008 residency at Montclair Elementary School in Fayetteville, NC, Doreyl and I had the opportunity to work with some great children in the 4th grade and some excellent teachers. 85 students (divided into 3 groups) were involved. As one of the learning projects, each group wrote a class "story." This was accomplished by choosing a storyline, and then working together orally, brainstorming and writing down the story as we went, covering the basis of a beginning, a middle, a conflict, a climax, and an ending. The whole process, entitled "A Twist of a Tale," began early in the residency, so that by the end of our time together, we brought all the students together to perform their stories for all 4th graders, plus some parents. The history of Fayetteville was chosen as an overall focus, with Group One doing the history between 1700-1800; Group Two wrote about 1800-1900; Group Three tackled 1900 - current. After the stories were completed, the class then illustrated the stories (see some of the illustrations behind us in the photo above; Doreyl's illustration is to the left). What a great experience for all of us. The following includes the stories written by and performed by the 4th graders at Montclair Elementary School!

Group One
Teacher: Clyde Carr
(plus part of Sue Russ' class)

"The First Settlers"

The first settlers in Fayetteville were the Siouan Indians. The second settlers were the Scottish people. The Cape Fear River was a busy traveling waterway. One busy town was Marquis de La Fayette, which later became Fayetteville.

One day a girl named Victoria was walking and exploring the wide open fields...'til she heard a growl from the top of a boulder. Suddenly, a panther jumped from the boulder...to be met with a flying arrow. Wounded by the arrow, the panther ran away. Standing in the shadows was a boy named "Little Eagle" wearing red, white, and brown feathers, and carrying a quiver of arrows.
 
      "What's your name?" asked Victoria.
      "Little Eagle," said the young Indian boy.
     
      They became best friends from that day on. They played together and Little Eagle taught Victoria his ways, and Victoria taught him her ways.
      I hope they watch over each other and take care of themselves.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Group Two:

Teacher:     Beth Grey
(plus part of Sue Russ' class)

"Fayetteville in the 1800's"

Narriator: In the 1800's General Marquis De Lafayette arrived in Fayetteville.   There he saw lots of cabins, business fronts and the old State House downtown. Women were dressed in long dresses and hats from Paris and the men wore knickers and poet blouses and leather shoes with buckles. He visited the gravesite of Reverend Henry Evans and thought about this great fight his friend fought for equality.
      Standing there, he looked over the town. All of a sudden, he saw a flickering flame of fire.
(Group Two students hold up the flames & bellowing smoke illustrated the day before.)
    He saw panicking people running everywhere.
(Group Two students run all through the audience.)
    Bellowing smoke was rising from the buildings. He cried out, "I was a hero one time; I can be one again!" He ran to find water, but on the way he saw someone with a child trapped in the old State House. He ran inside as fast as he could and pulled them out.
      Hours later, the town was in ashes, and the smell of burnt residue covered the people. Reporters came from all over with their notebooks and pencils, ready to write the story of the century. 
 
First reporter said, "This is the worst fire in the history of the country."
    Second reporter said "Believe it or not, no lives were lost!"
    Then, a third reporter went up to Lafayette and said, "How do you feel about the fire?"
      Layayette responded in a voice that was brave, yet emotions that showed he was astonished by what he had just witnessed.   "I am sad because the town was just burnt down and destroyed, yet I am so grateful because no lives were lost, which I still can not believe after seeing what I just saw."
      Third reporter said to Layayette, "You are a hero for saving that woman and her child, and Layayette...you are such a humble General that does not even want to take any of the credit."
      Lafayette just said, "Now we need to all come together as a community and fix this place up!"
      Lafayette was so positive and had such great ideas.

Narriator:  They named this the "Great Fire" of 1831 and later, down the road, it was determined that this was believed to be one of the worst fires in the nation's history, even though, remarkably, no lives were lost. Hundreds of homes and businesses and most of Fayetteville's best-known public buildings were lost, including the old State House. It was really neat though to see all of Fayetteville's leaders work together and quickly move to help the victims and rebuild the town.
      This "Great Fire" destroyed most of Fayetteville in 1831 and in 1832, the Market House was completed. The Market House became the center of commerce and celebration. The structure was actually built on the ruins of the old State House. Even today, the Market House of Fayetteville is still a distinct landmark of this great city, standing triumphantly in the center of town.


Group 3
Teacher: Linda Wilson
(plus part of Sue Russ' class)

"The All-American City, Fayetteville, North Carolina"

Narrator:     There are few places in America that have played such an important role in our country's most defining moments as Fayetteville. From its original settlement in 1739 by Scottish immigrants through the deployment of American Troops to places such as Afghanistan and Iraq today, it is here the very seeds of American patriotism, democracy, and freedom were planted and the citizens of Fayetteville continue to believe in these important ideas. Today, our class will present some of Fayetteville's FIRSTS. We will look at four major events in the 20th century that have made Fayetteville, North Carolina one of the most famous cities in the Southeast.

SCENE ONE:   Fairgrounds off Southern Avenue
(Baseball fans start singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as the Orioles come up to bat.)

Baseball Announcer:     Good afternoon baseball fans. Let's welcome the Baltimore Orioles to Fayetteville, N.C. Today, they will play a series of exhibition games. Now we will get this exciting game started with the Orioles at bat. Coming up to bat first is a new player named George Ruth.   Play ball fellows, and may the best team win.
Ruth:     Okay fellow...give me your fastest ball. I can hit anything you can throw! Over the base, over the base...don't be shy.
Pitcher: All right young fellow, see if you can hit this fastball.
            (Ruth swings at the fastball and misses it.)
Announcer:     STRIKE ONE!
Ruth:     That was pure luck! No one can strike me out. Give me another of your so-called fastballs.
Pitcher:     Let's try for strike two.
            (Pitcher throws a ball at a very high speed, and Ruth swings...)
Announcer:     STRIKE TWO!
Baseball fans in the stands:   Come on, don't strike out! We know that you are the best! Make us proud of you!
Ruth:       All right young man, I am ready to play ball. Give me your best pitch.
          (As the pitcher throws the ball, the audience holds its breath in anticipation of the strike out by Ruth.)
BANG!   Swissssssssshhhhhh!
Ruth:     Home Run!   I knew that I could do it!

Narrator:     Now this was the first professional home run of Ruth's career, and it happened in Fayetteville, N.C. on March 7, 1914. Sportswriters following the team began to call Ruth the "Babe." Now all of you know that the rest is baseball history. I wonder if anyone ever found that baseball that Babe hit out of the park that day?

SCENE TWO:   Pope Field near Fayetteville, N.C.

Narrator:   It was a very hot and humid day on July 4, 1923 in Fayetteville, N.C. There was a hot air balloon anchored over Pope Field that had been borrowed from the National Guard where it was used to provide aerial observation training for gunners. Little did the people at Pope Field know that history would be made on this Fourth of July.

Announcer:   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Fourth of July celebration at Pope Field. Today, we have a special military exercise for you to observe. Sit back and enjoy America's first military parachute jump!
Soldier:   I am really nervous about this jump. Hope I remember everything that I learned in my training classes.
Captain:   Show no fear soldier...you are making history today! Just jump out of the balloon and close your eyes. You will be on the ground before you know it.
Soldier:   Yes sir, but I wish that the landing pad was a little softer. Oh well, Airborne all the way! (Soldier jumps and lands safely on the ground.)
Crowd:   Yeah! Yeah! Do it again! That was great!

Narrator:   Today it is very common to see parachutes blossoming in the skies above Pope Air Force Base. The 82nd "All-American" Infantry Division became the army's first airborne unit. Fayetteville, N.C. is proud of our soldiers that protect our nation and world. Let's give a big thanks to our paratroopers. Airborne all the way!


SCENE THREE: USO Club located on Ray Street, just off Rowan Street in Fayetteville, N.C.

Narrator:   Times were changing in Fayetteville, N.C. in the 1940's. The United States was preparing for war in both military and morale. The President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, had challenged private groups to create an organization that created a "home away from home" for the servicemen. This organization became known as the United Service Organizations or the USO. Fayetteville decided to open a large, new USO club to help our soldiers.

Soldier:   Wow! Can you believe this club? It is fastastic! It is known as the largest USO in the world.
Soldier's Buddy:   Yes, this is really a home away from home. Just look at that auditorium and snack bars. This building even has dressing facilities and a roof garden.
Soldier:   Let's go ask one of those beautiful girls for a dance.
(Soldiers and girls dance.)

Narrator:   Fayetteville was a busy place in November 1941. Construction at Ft.Bragg was running full speed. Life Magazine estimated in 1941 that Ft. Bragg was the largest military camp in the nation and North Carolina's third largest city. The USO Club in Fayetteville would continue to serve the servicemen in our area for about 60 years. The old USO building has been destroyed by fire, but it is still remembered by the people of Fayetteville as a safe place for soldiers to go for fun and relaxation.


SCENE FOUR:   A military school located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Narrator:   After World War II, the United States began to realize that change was necessary in our public schools. During the 1950's Fayetteville was the first place in the South that changed when it came to school desegregation.

Mildred Poole:   As the principal of the Fort Bragg School System, I feel that it is important that we end racial segregation in our schools on Fort Bragg.
Parent:   Do you think this is a wise idea? I would hate to see violence break out in our schools.
Mildred Poole:   I have 20 classrooms that I am in charge of, and I do not think that desegregation would be a problem in our school system.
Lieutenant:   Mrs. Poole, I have come to ask you why my duaghter cannot attend the post elementary school like all of the other children that live on my street. Do you think that it is fair for my daughter to be sent to all-black schools off post? I do not think that this is fair to my daughter or my family.
Mildred Poole:   Sir, I completely agree with you, and I have already decided that racial segregation in the classrooms under my authority will end immediately. Maybe, someday all of the schools in the United States will see how integration in our schools will help our nation become stronger and more productive.
Lieutenant: Thank you so much for helping my daughter. Perhaps someday she will help get equal rights for other people, too.

Narrator:   About four years later, St. Ann Catholic Church opened its elementary school in downtown Fayetteville. When the school opened in 1956, it was the first school in the state to be fully integrated from its beginning.
(White children sit in a classroom and several black children enter the room. Children greet each other and sing, "Make New Friends, But Keep the Old.")

Students: We should judge people by the contents of their character and not the color of their skin!
 

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