Delaware Division of the Arts
Artist in Residents Program
Program Narrative
Sonic Squad --The Art of Radio Journalism
Program Description: Milton Elementary School (MES),
located in Sussex County, Delaware is proposing the creation of a
radio/journalism after school program targeted to ten, fourth and fifth grade
students. The students will be chosen on an "audition" basis and will
reflect the racial demographics of the school. The project is called The Sonic
Squad and it will be housed at MES for 18 weeks, once a week, beginning
November 2003.
There are many successful youth radio programs in
operation across America, but this program will be different because the target
population is younger. In fact, we believe that this will be the only radio
journalism program operating in an elementary school in the United States.
Children ten to twelve years of age have the cognitive and emotional skills to
tell truthful and compelling stories. The Sonic Squad will teach children how
to communicate verbally in a public forum by teaching them first how to listen,
tell the truth and respect the audience. This will be done through a series of
verbal and written games that will strengthen their powers of memory,
observation, reasoning and description. The Sonic Squad will be able to listen
and speak, carefully and critically, with an ear to discern the factual from
the rhetorical.
The key to the success of the Sonic Squad will be the
hiring of the artist in residence, Bruce Schimmel. While Schimmel's vita is
attached for your review, there are a few elements of his work history that
deserve special mention. One: he is an experienced teacher. Two: he is the
founder and former publisher and editor of Philadelphia's City Paper. Three: he
is a news correspondent for NPR's (National Public Radio) local affiliate in
Salisbury, Maryland. Four: he has a state of the art radio studio in his home,
which is less than one mile from MES.
Schimmel plans to break down the 18 week sessions via
basic introduction of the subject; writing stories, teaching the reading of the
stories and finally the production of ten, three- minute radio spots, one for
each member of the Sonic Squad, that will be offered to be played on the local
NPR affiliate and will be available on the web. He will accomplish this through
private journals, public in-class readings, web presentations and longer radio
narratives, radio presentations, including music and as a long term goal he
will create material that could be used during the year long Milton bicentennial
celebration that is scheduled to begin in 2007.
Making a difference: Members of the Sonic Squad will
learn to observe carefully, ask salient questions, listen accurately and
present verbal information in a clear and compelling manner. What each child
says--that's truthful, thorough, fair and appropriate to the context of the
project can make an enormous difference in their lives. It will teach them to
ask themselves questions. It will give them a chance to write for a reason and
they will learn how to use their voices as an instrument.
Planning Process: Schimmel will coordinate all activities
with Ms. Marilyn Davis, a 27 year veteran of the Cape Henlopen School System.
Davis is currently teaching special education at MES. Davis will be the teacher
liaison for this project and will work with Schimmel to insure that standard
school procedures are followed, plus she will guide him through the curriculum
process and act as a second hand in the classroom.
Student Assessment: There will be an on-going assessment
based on accurate observation, relevant questions and thoughtful investigation,
artful arrangement of information, using effective rhetorical devices that are
respectful of the audience. Radio is creative in a way that television is not
because the pictures depend entirely on what is heard. The Sonic Squad will
observe, gather, consider, order and present fact-based information that will
be evaluated and accessed by both Schimmel and Davis. The quality of the end
product: the disc with a three minute story, will be used to assess the success
of the project, both individually and as a group.
There are measurable outcomes for this project. They
include an increase in reading comprehension; an increase in writing skills; an
increase in deductive and inductive reasoning and the tangible product of a 2
to 3 minute speech on a non-fictional topic and its evaluation for clarity and
interest.
Public Component: Through Schimmel's affiliation with
NPR"s affiliate, the Sonic Squad's three-minute radio spots will be
offered for broadcast on the station, tentatively scheduled for Spring, 2004.
The spots will also be available on the web, and on disc.
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