Kutztown High School students have begun Phase 2 of the Kutztown Project, which will capture the essence of the Kutztown community in a student created book and documentary.
“To investigate ourselves, Kutztown, our values, our heritage, our history and really come to an understanding of our past, our current status and then where might we be going in the future,” said Kutztown High School Assistant Secondary Principal Edward L. Myers, Ed.D.
Myers explained that the project is a collaborative with the Hill Freedman Academy in north Philadelphia. Last year, the two schools visited each other to gain new perspectives and gain global understanding. This year, Kutztown students will be writing a book and producing a documentary about Kutztown.
“The book and documentary’s aim is to capture the essence of Kutztown, the entire community,” said Myers. “In the spring, we hope to share our findings with The Hill Freedman Academy.”
An estimated 115 students in 9th through 12th grade will be involved in creating the book in various ways, including creative writing, photography, art and historical research. There are two research teams and a number of teachers and students involved through their courses and some on their own.
Noting that the book will be a gift to the Kutztown community, Myers said, “We’re trying to teach them the service aspect of this. How to connect to the community and give something back.”
Among the goals of the project is community based learning.
“Developing those questions and understanding how a community like ours works,” said Myers.
Government classes will be involved. “We’re looking at town problems and finding possible solutions. Gaining a better understanding of why things are the way they are. Then, if we want to create change how do we create that change? What’s the process.”
Industry is another connection to the community. East Penn Manufacturing in Lyons, for example, and other businesses are involved in the project also.
“What do these businesses do for us as a community? How do they impact and create who we are?” said Myers.
A third piece of the project is critical thinking and creative thinking.
“What are we? Why are we the way we are? What is our backbone? What does that mean and what do we do with that?”
The project involves the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center in Kutztown, Kutztown University and the Kutztown Historical Society.
Inquiry based learning is another element of the project.
“We will be conducting interviews with members of the Kutztown community for both the book and documentary,” said Myers, inviting interested individuals for the interviews to contact him at the high school. “We’re going to interview people from Kutztown to get their perspective of what Kutztown is. It could be a farmer… the mayor, someone fro Kutztown University, so a diverse range of people to see what their view points are.”
Myers said they are interested in talking to anyone in the Kutztown community, including business, agriculture or someone who has lived in Kutztown their entire lives.
Anyone interested in getting involved or being interviewed for the book and documentary can contact Myers at the high school at 610-683-7346 or email him at emyers@kasd.org.
