Monday, June 8, 2015

Case Study No. 2008: Staff of Ferguson Public Library

Ferguson children get a much needed break from the conflict
2:27
For the last several days, violence has dominated the conversation in Ferguson, Missouri.

Bullhorns, tear gas and arrests have been constant reminders of unrest simmering below the surface for years. The young children of this racially divided town have been witnesses to it all.

Children whose classes were canceled this week because of the unrest over an unarmed Michael Brown's fatal shooting at the hands of white local police officer.

We found while driving around town Wednesday afternoon, at the Ferguson Public library.

Several Ferguson-Florissant school district school teachers are responsible for all of this. There more than a hundred students scattered across the town's library. The goal is to maintain some kind of consistency to their school day routine. They're learning, eating lunch - provided free of charged by local vendors. The goal is to also keep them busy - while their community navigates its way back from chaos - to calm.
Tags: Child (Literature Subject) Break
Added: 9 months ago
From: Everything
Views: 18

[scene opens with footage of riot police and protesters in Ferguson (MO)]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] For the last several days, this has dominated the conversation in Ferguson, Missouri. Bullhorns, tear gas, arrests ... and the young children of this racially divided town have been witnesses to it all.
[cut to an exterior shot of the Ferguson-Florissant School District administration building]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] Children whose classes were canceled this week because of the unrest--
[cut to a still photograph of Michael Brown]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] Over an unarmed Michael Brown's fatal shooting at the hands of a white local police officer.
[cut to a white male librarian reading a Curious George book to a group of children in the Ferguson Public Library]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] But look at what we found while driving around town Wednesday afternoon, at the Ferguson Public Library.
[cut to inside of the library (where several children and library staff can be seen), while the male reporter speaks directly to the camera]
JAY DOW: Several Ferguson-Florissant school district teachers are here, and they're responsible for all of this. More than a hundred students scattered across the town's public library, and the goal is to keep their school day routine consistent. They're here learning, eating a lunch provided free of charge by local establishments. Above all, the goal is to keep them busy and occupied, while this community navigates its way from chaos back to some sense of calm.
[cut to an older woman and a young boy standing near a bookshelf]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] Rhonda Dorris brought her grandson here to volunteer.
[cut to the woman speaking to the reporter]
RHONDA DORRIS: My grandson is upset, he feel like his education is being ... y'know, taken away from him 'cause he can't get to school.
[cut to the young boy speaking directly to the camera]
BRIAN DORRIS: Some kids like to think that school is horrible, but to me, like, school is ... uh, it keeps me occupied during the day, instead of being at home all day.
[cut back to the school district's administration building]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] Over at school district headquarters, spokesperon Jana Shortt acknowledges the psychological damage inflicted on the town's students over the last several days will not be easily undone.
[cut to a woman speaking with the reporter]
JANA SHORTT: We have planned workshops for teachers. We have, um, all day trainings where they're receiving help.
[cut back to Rhonda in the library]
RHONDA DORRIS: I'd never think this would happen in this community, ever. Never.
[cut to Rhonda and the reporter walking through the library]
JAY DOW: [in voice over] This life long Missouri resident witnessed the Civil Rights movement here as a young adult, and now she's living through monumental change once again, this time through another generation's eyes.
[cut back to Rhonda speaking to the reporter]
RHONDA DORRIS: It's sad. I would just hope it'd hurry up and heal ... Get things healed, and people get back together so we can get our children educated.
[cut to the reporter standing outside of the library, speaking directly to the camera]
JAY DOW: Not all of Ferguson's students are just sitting home. Y'know, we saw last night how so many young people were out in the street, attending the demonstration and the protests, and they saw the ugliness afterward as well. The plan is to resume classes on Monday.

---

From pix11.com:

FERGUSON, Mo. (PIX11) - For the last several days, violence has dominated the conversation in Ferguson, Missouri.

Bullhorns, tear gas and arrests have been constant reminders of unrest simmering below the surface for years. The young children of this racially divided town have been witnesses to it all.

Children whose classes were canceled this week because of the unrest over an unarmed Michael Brown's fatal shooting at the hands of white local police officer.

We found while driving around town Wednesday afternoon, at the Ferguson Public library.

Several Ferguson-Florissant school district school teachers are responsible for all of this. There more than a hundred students scattered across the town's library. The goal is to maintain some kind of consistency to their school day routine. They're learning, eating lunch - provided free of charged by local vendors. The goal is to also keep them busy - while their community navigates its way back from chaos - to calm.

Rhonda Dorris brought her grandson here - to volunteer.

"My grandson is upset, because he feels like his education is being taken away from him because he can't get to school," said Dorris.

"Some kids like to think that school is horrible. But to me, school keeps me occupied during the day, instead of being at home all day," said Brian Dorris.

Over at district headquarters, spokesperson Jana Shortt acknowledges the psychological damage inflicted on the town's student's over the last several days...will not be easily undone.

"We have planned workshops for teachers, we have all day trainings, where they're receiving help," said Shortt.

"I never think this would happen in this community - never, never," said Rhonda Dorris.

This life-long Missouri resident witnessed the Civil Rights movement here as a young adult, and is now living through monumental change once again - this time through another generation's eyes.

"It's sad. I just hope it hurry up and heal, and get things back together so we can get our children educated," added Dorris.

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