Edison Students Advance in Communications

by Cordelia Talley

Takeover?  School reform? Empowerment?  They have been happening all along in a state-of-the-art studio in North Philadelphia.  Students have been taking over the controls to create, produce, write, and direct short films, news programs, public service announcements and videos.  Edison/Fareira High School's Audio Visual Communications Technology Program has made considerable strides in reforming the idea that urban youth cannot hold their own in today's technological field.  Under the watchful eye of Mr. Norbert Bain, these students are becoming empowered by embracing their projects and taking ownership to produce quality products of which they and their school will be proud.

The students are inspired by current issues such as health concerns, drugs, peer relationships and the survival of our nation.  Students recently produced a video of the aftermath of the World Trade Center destruction.  The moving work, with news footage set with vibrant music, showcased the caring of these young people through their on-screen text.  Visitors from the South Craven School in West Yorkshire, England requested a copy of the video to share with their students.  Bain received a heartwarming letter from teacher Sue Ingham who used the video as the focal point for a series of assembly programs.  As a result, these young people were able to share the American perspective of that tragic day.  Many wrote poems showing that they too felt the pain and anguish of the terrorist attack.  The South Craven students were eager to let the Edison students know the great impact that the video had on them.  The thought-provoking work made them think about the things we so often take for granted.  Ingham stated in her letter, "It caused them to reflect on how such events are portrayed in the media and they certainly felt that in a relatively short piece you said such a lot!  Praise indeed you may think, but then a number of students came to ask if they could buy the video!"  Word soon spread and a nearby school requested the assembly program for its students.

The Edison Audio Visual Communications Technology Program is supported by Philadelphia Academies, Inc. which has arranged community based partnerships.  Edison students have demonstrated their abilities to compete and have worked hard to overcome the negativity often associated with Philadelphia public school students. Verizon's Delaware Valley Director of Customer Service, Mr. Paul McHugh, is offering four internships for seniors.  The paid summer experience will lead to full-time employment upon completion.  This expanded program is based on a model currently offered to college students.

Bain has worked diligently to provide a multifaceted relevant curriculum so that students will leave the program well prepared to enter the workforce.  He dismisses the old "chalk and talk" technique and uses innovative teaching strategies to promote student achievement.  Bain includes hands-on experiences and off site visits for students to further hone their skills and develop a better awareness of and appreciation for the city's vast resources. On a recent visit to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the students took an acoustic tour to study how the engineering, materials, and design affect the sound in the innovative cello-shaped concert hall.  The students experienced the aura of being in the hall as they studied the sound of their own voices in concert.  They identified the distinction in sound between an a cappella performance, a song, and the rhythm of the conga drums.

Students were inspired and motivated by their Kimmel visit.  Junior, Darryl Irizarry, has a new outlook on music in general and stated, "I began to study Beethoven and Mozart."  Irizarry has written his own songs and has produced a CD that he plans to promote in the near future.  Clarence Irvine, also a junior, has an interest in technical engineering.  He now has a clear understanding of the difference in sound between stereo speakers and a live concert.

Bain used this visit as a way for students to realize the many career opportunities that are available to them.  Exposing them to the financial, scientific and production areas of the field opens up the career prospects so that students understand they are not limited to performance.

There has been a considerable amount of academic growth as well for these vocational students.  For example, Bain indicates that student editors have to use critical thinking skills by evaluating and being aware of composition and color.  Students have made tremendous strides in their verbal skills which will be an asset for communicating with others on the job.

Good things are happening in this North Philadelphia school unfairly associated with the "Badlands" nickname of its surrounding neighborhood.  Few are aware of the state-of-the-art television studio that students use to stay on the cutting edge of today's technology.  Students use an on-site cable system to show student created news broadcasts throughout the school. Creativity is at its peak, international connections are being made, and real-life experiences are preparing these students to empower themselves for the challenges of the future.