JC students use puppets to teach about differences
Two Jamestown College classes used puppets this week to convey the message of acceptance of disabilities, or students with exceptionalities, in schools for the final project for their education class. “I really liked it, they had some really, really great parts,” said 10-year-old Annavah Cole, who attended one of the puppet shows Thursday. Deb Kercher, parent co-instructor and professional puppeteer, said teaching children was the ultimate goal of the project.By: Ben Rodgers, The Jamestown Sun
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Two Jamestown College classes used puppets this week to convey the message of acceptance of disabilities, or students with exceptionalities, in schools for the final project for their education class.
“I really liked it, they had some really, really great parts,” said 10-year-old Annavah Cole, who attended one of the puppet shows Thursday.
Deb Kercher, parent co-instructor and professional puppeteer, said teaching children was the ultimate goal of the project.
“It makes me feel like it was all worthwhile,” Kercher said.
Ilana Xinos, instructor of Education 303: Introduction to Teaching Students with Exceptionalities, said the college students did research all semester and came up with the ideas for their individual puppets themselves.
“I really wanted them to get in the mind of an individual that does have a disability or is an exceptional learner so they could get that mentality,” Xinos said.
Puppets at the early Thursday show had a variety of disabilities including: blindness from vitamin A deficiency, asthma, a malfunctioned left ear, generalized anxiety disorder, Asperger syndrome, high functioning autism, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD and a prosthetic leg.
Kyle Barras, a junior and elementary education major, said he created his puppet, Chris, who has Tourette’s, from personal experiences.
“Everything about the puppet is based on a friend of mine,” Barras said. “... It’s all a true story.”
He primarily used interviews with his friend and his old classmates as well as traditional research.
All of the puppets had positive messages for the children, including Barras’ puppet.
“I don’t really care what other people think because I’m comfortable with myself,” said Chris the puppet, when asked by a child if he get’s made fun of because of his tic from Turrets.
Kyle VanDyke, a junior physical education major, and his puppet, Toby, who lost a leg in an automobile accident, struck a cord with Cole.
“I actually learned that lots of things that happen to you, like with what happened with the guy without the leg, can still be good,” Cole said.
VanDyke, like Barras, also had a positive message for children when asked a question about how comfortable he is talking about his prosthetic leg.
“If you want to know about my leg just ask,” said Toby the puppet. “I don’t mind talking about it.”
VanDyke was happy to learn that he conveyed a message to Cole through Toby the puppet.
“That’s awesome that she can come away with it, with a different point of view that she probably wouldn’t have had if she didn’t come to the show,” he said. “It’s cool you can make an impact like that.”
Kercher said that is the power of puppets.
“They (children) will relate to a puppet a lot better than an adult person,” she said.
She has been using puppets in the class for 13 years, and said she was happy with this year’s group.
“I was so impressed, the cream rises to the top the way these guys shoot,” Kercher said.
Eight children attended the first of two Thursday shows and asked questions with other students and their puppets about each disability.
“It’s a very important subject matter that all students who want to be teachers need to learn about,” Xinos said.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com
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