The compassion of children
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 24, 2017 5:50 AM
Full Size
Patricia Rullman leads a discussion with her students at the School Street Early Learning Center Monday about the loss experienced by children and their families after Hurricane Irma and Maria. Students talked about what kind of things that could be donated to help rebuild schools in the area.
An educator with ties to Puerto Rico discovered just how much compassion her 3- and 4-year-old students have for hurricane victims during a recent geography lesson.
Patricia Rullman, a preschool teacher at School Street Early Learning Center, said it all started with a discussion of American Samoa, a U.S. territory in the Samoan Islands.
"We were talking about how different people live and different families," she said. "The children asked about other islands -- there was a lot going on in the news then about the islands and hurricanes.
"They were wanting to know on the globe where that was located and what was going on." When Rullman explained that people in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands had lost everything, the students' reaction was almost immediate.
"They wanted to know how they could help," she said. "I said, 'You can help. Maybe we can try to do something.'
"They were asking what we can do and I told them maybe we can start donating some paper and pencils and markers."
The unexpected turn in that day's lesson plan proved to be more than a "teachable moment," Rullman said.
"It was for the kids, it was awareness," she said. "I had them think about the fact that these people had nothing.
"I think for me it was the compassion, knowing the children wanted to do something. Even as young as they were, it was in their heart, fresh and pure, wanting to do something good. My children still wanted to do this as little as they were -- they wanted to do the right thing and help."
Students like 3-year-olds Jacob Levi, Lyric Hines and Alalia Phillips were especially moved when they learned other children like them had lost their toys and teddy bears as well as school supplies, their teacher said.
The takeaway turned into "Friends Helping Friends," a schoolwide supply drive for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Teachers at the school have boxes in their classrooms and donations are also being accepted at the front entrance of the building, 415 S. Virginia Street.
Items being collected include children's books, paper, construction paper, pencils, crayons and stuffed animals.
"It's been a good experience," said Stephanie Smith, an instructional assistant. "Just to see children at this young age actually want to give has been great."
The effort is also a personal one for Rullman, whose mother and daughter were both born in Puerto Rico. She also still has family there.
"We haven't been able to make contact with them," she said. "People are so far out in the country so we're unable to make contact with all our family."
In addition to all the devastation to property and homes, she said progress has been slowed because of power outages across Puerto Rico.
"December is when the island will be at 100 percent electricity. Right now, 50 percent of the people are without electricity," she said. "In December, they're hoping that the island will be at full capacity.
"We're hoping to have our donation drive through the end of November. I think that's pretty reasonable."
The effort at the former School Street Elementary School has also provided a foundation for teaching good citizenship, the educator said.
"Last year School Street was used as a shelter during Hurricane Matthew," Rullman said. "When the event happened, School Street was actually the place where the displaced stayed.
"We want everyone to know that in Wayne County when Matthew happened, School Street stepped up to the plate. We want to step up to the plate again, for our island partners."