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Daniel Cole
New KOB Program Addresses Post-September 11 Society
Since the tragedy of September 11, there has been a barrage of information, analysis and “expert opinion” concerning the events of that day. Interestingly, experts around the country are united in their efforts to educate parents and educators regarding the tragedy: talk about it with your children! Open communication is the best remedy for children’s fears; it is the most effective means for them to return to a sense of normalcy. The Kids on the Block, Inc. has worked to address the worries, misconceptions and prejudices with which our children are faced because of terrorism and the world's response to it. The program Coping with Crisis and Making a Difference is the result of those efforts. Coping with Crisis contains four scripts featuring Brenda Dubrowski, Melody James and new puppet character, Salimah Rahman. It addresses ideas of safety and security, issues surrounding military deployment, misconceptions and prejudices about Muslims and contributing to the community in need. The KOB staff is encouraged that Coping with Crisis will open doors for children and give them a healthy venue to work through the events of our Nation’s tragedy. “Troubling Times” Several KOB troupes around the country have been successfully performing the script “Troubling Times” since its debut in October 2001. According to one troupe coordinator, the experience performing the script was “truly amazing” because of the open dialogue it inspired with the audience. In “Troubling Times,” Brenda has continued concerns about the events of September 11 and is reluctant to discuss her feelings. Brenda has difficulty processing her thoughts about that day, especially since life is “returning to normal” for many of her friends. With Melody’s help, Brenda realizes that her feelings are natural, and it is important for her to continue with her usual routines. “Troubling Times” encourages children to talk about the events of that day and their accompanying fears and concerns. “Wait 'Til the War’s Over” America’s response to September 11 has also had a great impact on both military and civilian communities. Necessarily, a script that addresses the difficulties military families experience with deployment is an integral part of the program. In this script, “Wait 'Til the War’s Over,” Brenda is anxious as her aunt is out of the country serving in the war on terrorism. While Aunt Gail is gone, Brenda puts her life activities on hold. Understanding how Brenda feels, Melody explains, “I used to think that way too, Brenda. The first time my dad went away, it was like I wanted everything around me to stop, so my dad wouldn’t miss any of it.” Melody then helps Brenda understand healthy and realistic ways to react to her aunt’s absence. “An All American Girl” As the featured character in the script “An All American Girl,” Salimah Rahman clarifies for Brenda what it means to be a Muslim. Since Brenda has a lot of misconceptions about Islam, Salimah takes the opportunity to dispel those myths and teach her friend. Salimah explains, “Prejudice, pre-judging someone, means making up your mind about someone before you get to know them.” Reviewers for the script include the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Council on Islamic Education, and the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. Their enthusiastic response confirms that this portion of the program sensitively teaches about Islam and prejudice in a clear, accurate manner. “Helping to Heal” The script, “Helping to Heal” emphasizes that children can make a valuable contribution to their community. Brenda and Melody, as part of a committee, discuss how their service project can help the victims of terrorism. The kids realize, “Just because we want to help the victims of terrorism, that doesn’t mean we have to stop helping other people in need.” The timeless idea of giving back to the community is the focal point in “Helping to Heal.” Certain questions have been ringing in the minds of Americans, now that we are living in a post-September 11 society. Why did the attack happen? What does it mean for the Muslim and Arab communities? What do those serving in this war need? How can we honor our country’s heroes? How can we contribute to our communities to make this world a better place? Rather than provide overly simplistic solutions, this program is designed to help children begin the process of digesting events which have been too overwhelming to comprehend. It is our goal, as it is yours, to make a difference in the lives of America's youth. This program provides a unique opportunity that gives children the forum to talk about the issues. For our students, the issues should be identifiable and discussion must be accessible. Coping with Crisis and Making a Difference is a means to that end. Michelle Dunn |
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