I know, Dear Reader, I know.
You are getting tired of my slipshod approach, the endless excuses about how busy I am.
But!
Yesterday I coached two baseball practices, for two different teams. Threw batting practice to twenty-two different boys who are at a point, ages 11 and 12, where it’s no longer okay to just blob it over. They need the ball with a little heat. So my wing is sore.
Today I’m driving off to Geneseo with my oldest, Nick, for a second look-see. He’s a high school senior and we’re getting down to decision time for college. On Wednesday, my good wife Lisa flies down to Atlanta, where she’s going to learn how to perform minor surgery on a cervix — and frankly I do not want to know any more details than that. She comes home Sunday, the day I coach a doubleheader and drive down to Long Island for a week’s worth of school visits.
And, oh, yeah. There’s the job thing, too. Writing stuff.
So the blog suffers.
I wanted to share a few scans and photos. I recently visited a school down in Sicklerville, NJ, where the students filled the halls with creative responses to my book, Bystander.
There were posters and poems. Some students wrote journal entries from the perspective on a book character, and I thought those were particularly interesting and effective. Isn’t that the big lesson in To Kill a Mockingbird, when Scout stands on Boo Radley’s porch and sees the world from his perspective? When she stands in his shoes?
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” — Harper Lee.
So after my presentations were done, and the books signed, we walked around the halls and filled a big box with incredible artwork, posters, etc. I can’t show it all to you, but here’s a few samples:
Most posters were too big to scan. I loved the tagline that one boy came up with . . .
“DON’T BE A BULLY . . . DO THE NICE!”
Hi Mr. Preller – Thanks for showing off all our hard-work. My students really responded to Bystander. They are still talking about it. I have to get more copies for the Library. We have a waiting list going!!! Everyday someone is asking if it was returned yet. Thanks for a great day and thanks for writing great books that kids can relate to!!
Cheryl Vassallo
Media Specialist
Thank you so much for all you do for the kids. What a great time it was meeting you and watching you interact with the children at our school….Thank you for the memories and the great day. Phillies are still the best!!!!!
Debbie, can’t you see I’m down? My poor, poor pitiful Mets. Even the Astros feel sorry for ’em. All I can say is, enjoy your time on top.
And, yes, thanks for the kind words. Interacting with the kids is by far my favorite part.
hi i think you should come to my school because see your book.Bystander help me stop wacthing kids get bully and tell. but there still out there with your help it is better everybody wil know that wrong to bully. email me about any questions are about were the school located
Dear Mr. Preller,
I was wondering to ask you for my project that if bystandered related to you in any way, please response and send to my email. By the way see you in May 25 in the skype conversation which i will be tere.