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The Raves
Comedy, music keep students riveted to lessons on core democratic values
Grand Haven Tribune
November 13, 2001 -- Front page
By Gena Kaiser
Tribune WriterThe Constitution, Bill of Rights and branches of government are not usually subjects that keep students enthralled. But when Doug Scheer spoke about these lessons Monday afternoon, students from Ferrysburg and Lake Hills elementary schools were hanging on his every word.
Scheer, dressed as Uncle Sam, combined the lessons of American freedom with music, fun props, student participation and his own talent for physical comedy. At one point in his show, he pulled a student dressed as the Statue of Liberty out of what appeared to be an empty box.
"I thought, ‘How can we make this something kids can grab onto?’" Scheer explained of how his show got started.
In 1987, the Commerce Township resident took his experience doing children’s theater and developed a school presentation that blended entertainment and learning in recognition of the Bicentennial of the Constitution.
He said this same show has since seen a resurgence with the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights and also with the recent addition of social studies to the MEAP (Michigan Education Assessment Program) test. "Then with Sept. 11, a lot of the schools are looking for something patriotic to do," he said.
Scheer travels all over Michigan, visiting about 10 schools each week, where he also does presentations of math, reading, science and memory skills among others.
Shelley Cannon, member of the Northshore PTA, which sponsored the show, and chairperson for the schools’ art council, said that the PTA felt that this was an important show for the students.
"We were pleased to give them information to help them understand what America is about," Cannon said.She added that this was also a "humorous and fun" way to introduce students to the core democratic values and review for the MEAP.
In under an hour, Scheer taught students about Patriotism, Constitutional government, the 13 colonies, individual rights and the branches of government.
And all of the students’ eyes went wide when Scheer said that the 10 brightly wrapped presents he had brought were for them.
"How would you like to have 10 presents for yourself?" he asked, as the students excitedly voiced their agreement.
But then Scheer explained that he couldn’t give the students those presents because they already had what was inside.
Ten volunteers from the audience opened the presents and pulled out symbols of the gifts they received through the Bill of Rights, such as a rubber arm that symbolized their right to bear arms.
"You are looking at the 10 presents that are considered the most valuable presents we have as Americans," He said.
"I learned lots about the United States," Ferrysburg second-grader Chad Nienhuis said after the assembly.
But his classmate, second-grader Alexandre Izokaitis, said that he took a different lesson from the show.
"I learned never to steal money or that guy will pick money from your nose," Izokaitis said, referring to a magic trick that Scheer had done with coins.
Need more information? Give us a call. There’s a school in your district that’s already seen these programs.
We’ll just let them brag for us.
