Midway’s World Fair Day Offers Cultural Diversity
Shannon McNaughton was scouting the Midway Elementary cafeteria for a husband, because that’s what Saudi Arabian girls do. But the 12-year-old in a black robe, head wrap and Adidas’ saw no prospects among her prepubescent peers.
“I would want to marry somebody who is cute and rich,” said McNaughton. “There’s no one here today.”
The play acting was part of Midway Elementary’s World Fair day, an immersion into a dozen distant cultures. If Saudi law places a gag on giggling for 12-year-olds, McNaughton and her peers followed it. All sixth grade girls needed their father’s permission to come to school, as per the Saudi tradition.
A group of fourth graders learned a bonnie Irish gig. First grader Molly Andrews counted in Swahili. Third graders made Norwegian trolls. Jamaican kindergartners tie-dyed T-shirts and jived to reggae.
The intensity of the World Fair was matched by its diversity. Japanese fish windsocks fluttered next to Brazilian iridescent blue morpho butterflies.
Each student brought home a piece of someplace else, each made by fellow Midway students. Toy lizards were a big hit, 8-year-old Patrick Kanaley said, showing how the styrofoam reptiles could be taught to scratch themselves.
“I got a bowl, but I wanted a sword,” said a sad 7-year-old Josh Bacon, who didn’t care if the tinfoil blades were Turkish or Tazmanian. “You can do cool stuff with a sword.”
The anthropological smorgasbord was the brain child of Midway parent and local writer Mary Pat Kanaley. The World Fair was a thinly veiled art lesson for the Midway students, who don’t have regular art instruction.
“I want the kids to know that art is more than painting pictures,” said Kanaley, who volunteered up to 40 hours a week to coordinate student projects. “It’s a state of mind.”
The school has focused on multi-culturalism since January, when teachers and students began preparing for Friday’s fair. Japanese students from Whitworth College dropped by last month to show students how to make origami warrior’s hats.
Some students got excited enough to do outside research on their countries. First graders Stephanie Albin and Madeline Dethlefs studied Costa Rica. “They make great bubble gum from trees,” said Albin.
Several fourth graders surprised Kanaley with a factoid about ancient Egypt: the brains of the dead were pulled out through their noses before mummification.
She stole the World Fair idea from her sister, a teacher in inner-city Chicago. Turning cultures into art projects was not hard for the high-energy, creative Kanaley. “I don’t have a dining room table, I have a bunch of boxes in the shape of castle,” said Kanaley, who is researching her next book on 19th century copper miners in Arizona.
NC sophomore going to China
Multi-culturalism for North Central sophomore James Lehman will take him out of the classroom and the country.
He is raising money for an 11-day stay in China this summer. He is traveling there with a reputable group that arranges track competitions between Washington state and Chinese high school students, the Washington Cultural Exchange.
The only local youth to participate, Lehman will run, talk and sight-see in Hong Kong and Canton, China. Lehman, a sprinter, is as interested in Chinese training techniques as about Maoism.
“I am interested in culture,” said Lehman, 16. “It’s a lot different because, you know, it a communist society. You hear about it, but you are interested in seeing it in effect.”
He is still more than $1,000 short for the $2,500 trip, although his parents said they will cover the expenses if necessary. Call him at 328-3526 to contribute.
Book give-away at Mead
“Good books are great friends,” said writer Maurice Sendak. Mead Junior High School is offering friends to any in need on Tuesday by giving away 700 books for it’s annual community service project.
The give-away is in the junior high cafeteria between 3:30 and 8:30 p.m. No joke; free books.
Call Nancy Monroe at 468-3077 for more information.
, DataTimes MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular source of school news and features in the North Side Voice. To give story ideas or tips on interesting programs or people, contact reporter Jonathan Martin. Deadline is Monday. Write: Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.