By Samantha Doroteo
and Sandra Garcia
Dragon Echo Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 13 is World Kindness Day, a day that was started in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement.
Something new has now been added to this special day in honor of children’s television host Fred Rogers. Mr. Rogers wore a cardigan sweater on his show, so many people will be wearing cardigans on World Kindness Day as a way of remembering a man who was known for being especially kind.
Mr. Rogers’ show taught children how to get along with others, feel good about themselves, and cope with their fears. He earned college degrees in musical composition and divinity. Besides producing, writing the scripts and serving as host, he wrote 200 songs (including the theme song) for the program. One thousand episodes were produced between 1968-2001, according to Brittanica.com.
Many NHS students remember enjoying his show, as children.
Ju’Zariah Robinson said she liked the characters on his show and his imagination.
"Our music teacher, Mrs. Cole, would let us watch it sometimes,” Zari said. “She loved Mr. Rogers.”
Mrs. Cole was the music teacher at Raguet Elementary. She said she did a lecture recital on his music and wrote an article about him in 2009.
“Fred Rogers believed that anything for children must be of the highest quality,” she said. “The music he wrote for his show and the musicians he employed were no exception: it was the very best he could offer.”
As an elementary music teacher, Mrs. Cole said she often used clips from his shows in her lessons, such as when he explained how people make trumpets or showed a visit to the bass violin factory.
“I wanted my students to be exposed to Rogers’ quality musical instruction,” she said. “More than that, Mr. Rogers embodied love, acceptance and kindness. This is what I truly wanted my students to experience. Music was merely the vehicle. Mr. Rogers has been a great influence on my life. Knowing him, as his television neighbor, inspires me to offer my best to others and to hold kindness as a daily goal.”
Yarely Ortiz said she liked the songs on the show, and the train that delivered a message to Mr. Rogers that he would read at the end of the show.
“His message meant something to everyone,” she said. “It affected people in different ways. You could learn something from his message at a young age, but for adults who have more experience in the world, it might mean something different.”
Liane Muir said the show was interesting and friendly, and Rogers greeted everyone with a smile.
“His show was an open place,” she said. “He was kind, and even though he was a grown-up he had the heart of a child. He empathized and reached out to us.”
Many NHS teachers said they are wearing cardigans Wednesday in honor of Mr. Rogers.
“I loved that the show was about positivity and good messages,” Ms. Jody Franks said. “As educators we would all agree that every day should be kindness day, but that simply doesn’t always occur. Think about all the stress and negativity that students and adults encounter on a daily basis. One small act can make or break a person’s morning and then their day (if they choose to let it be that impacting). What if that one small act was kindness? If we ever want to build a better culture and society it has to start with kindness. Aren’t we in the business of turning lives around and guiding them on a path of growth?”
Mrs. Jaramillo said she watched Mr. Rogers in kindergarten during arrival time, and she loved the Neighborhood of Make-Believe!
“Mr. Rogers wanted to instill in children a love of the world, a love of other people, and curiosity to learn more about them,” she said. “I believe the message he left for all of us is that we are all valuable, and we should all be proud of the ways we are unique.”
Ms. Jaramillo said kind acts reach further than we realize.
“Kindness is universal,” she said. “Kindness is not easily forgotten and can be given and received by anyone. World Kindness Day is a day that brings attention to the affection, gentleness, warmth, concern, and care that make us all human. It’s totally a day worth having!”
Ms. Long said she enjoyed watching Mr. Rogers, because he was always calm and taught children and adults how to deal with conflict in a peaceful manner, and how to handle scary situations like moving and change.
“His message was that we can be kind to each other even though we are different and may disagree with each other,” she said. “Having a World Kindness Day is just a reminder in a society that doesn’t always lead with kindness, and does not always strive to be a peace-keeper.”
Ms. Dinbali said the world can be a mean and ugly place, whether anyone means for it to be or not.
“We need to work extra hard to be kind to one another,” she said. “You never know what a person has been through or what they are currently going through. I mean, why not be kind? It doesn’t cost anything. And I think it’s our duty to make this world a better place.”
Ms. Dinbali said her motto is “Dream-Try-Do Good–Help Others.”
Although Mr. Rogers’ show has been off the air for nearly 20 years, his message may be revived for a new generation through “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” a movie starring Tom Hanks set for release on Nov. 22.
Ms. Franks said she plans to see it with her mother.
“I expect to cry buckets, due to the nostalgia factor,” she said.
Some facts about Mr. Rogers from mentalfloss.com and Brittanica.com:
He was bullied as a child.
He was an ordained Presbyterian minister.
He responded to all of his fan mail.
He was an accomplished musician and wrote all the songs for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
He decided to start a TV show because he hated TV. He wanted to find a way to use TV to nurture children.
Mr. Rogers’ mom knitted all of his sweaters. One of his red cardigans is on display in the Americana Collection at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rogers testified before the senate to save Public Television. Budget cuts were being considered, but after hearing his testimony the Senate voted to increase funding.
He won four daytime Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
コメント