Thursday, January 18, 2007 Older Editions

International program, positive result

Andover High School has been battered by a storm of negative attention due to the fiasco that was the Wheels of Justice visit and reaction. But Andover High students and teachers have been involved in another lesson plan that brought an international issue into the local classrooms. And it is something everyone can applaud.

Teachers in the Andover High School art department brought the Memory Project, an international arts outreach program, to many of their students. Using photos of children living in a variety of Third World orphanages, some students have created portraits that can be sent back to the orphans. Other students are creating "Books of Hope" that will be read by Ugandan children. Reportedly, these children must march miles to special shelters each night to protect themselves from being hauled away by soldiers and forced into lives as young soldiers or prostitutes. There is little for the children to do in these shelters. Now they can at least occupy their minds and escape their grim circumstances through the colorful world of books. Books created by Andover teens.

This special program not only teaches students about different art media, but it also informs and connects them to important issues beyond the walls of Andover High. It paints the picture of education we all can encourage for our schools.