Columbia, MD (March 7, 2005) – Mark Riley is a star when it comes to national volunteer efforts, particularly in supporting arts in education.  As teachers hyper-focus on meeting the rising academic goals put before them, addressing the emotional needs of our youth has fallen heavily on community support programs.  As a response, many have enlisted Mark to cruise into communities voicing real concerns over the absence of holistic, emotional and interactive forms of learning within our nation’s schools. 

“A world of isolation is one of the cruelest things you can do to a child,” writes Dr. Charlotte Thompson in “Raising a Handicapped Child.”

In fact, children labeled as “different” due to a variety of reasons including medical conditions, disabilities, and ethnic or socioeconomic differences are often targeted by peers who, instead of asking questions and understanding, often bully or socially isolate that child.

Eleven year old Mark Riley does not mind talking about what makes him special and different.  He knows he tends to stand out with his bright red hair, freckle faced smile and his souped-up cruiser, the wheelchair he uses to get around.  Children instantly feel comfortable around him and ask him all kinds of questions about what it is like to have cerebral palsy.  Mark has been specifically designed to be used in the art of puppetry to facilitate such positive interaction.

“Lots of kids see me in this wheelchair and do not understand.  They may even be a little afraid or tease me at first,” Mark says.  “But, I just explain to them about my disability.  I tell them that it’s not like having a cold or the flu or anything.  I’m just a regular kid who likes to do regular kid things,  I just may do them in a different way.”

In addition to educating school age children about differences, Mark and some puppet friends from The Kids on the Block, Inc. are also voicing some real concerns.  These concerns stem from the increasing focus many school systems have on academic testing and the need for higher test results which have often left out the mental health needs of children.  Many studies have recognized that arts can be a bridge to learning, helping students feel more connected with themselves, their peers and their educational environment.

In a study conducted by The Arts Education Partnership, researchers found that “learning in the arts can not only impact how young people learn to think, but also how they feel and behave.”

Community educators and volunteers engage the audience through the art of puppetry while follow-up activities allow the children to express their thoughts and ideas in the classroom through visual arts, music, creative writing and dramatic role-play about the subjects presented.  The Kids on the Block incorporates these varied art mediums in numerous topics including bullying, healthy eating, abuse, medical conditions and disabilities.

“The arts serve as the only way that all kids come together on an even playing field.  We all have intrinsic talents, it is a matter of which talents become fostered and are allowed to grow,” says Diana Degnan-LaFon, MA, Director of Program Development with The Kids on the Block, Inc.

Mark acts as a visual reminder of the importance of arts in education and the necessity to balance emotional needs of children with academic needs for complete success in higher learning.


Media Inquiries:
Aric Darroe (410)290-9095
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The Kids on the Block, Inc. is an educational puppet company which uses live puppet theatre to educate children about sensitive topics, including disability awareness.  Over 1,600 associate troupes use curricula developed by The Kids on the Block, Inc. to deliver messages of sensitivity, acceptance, an responsible decision making to children around the world.