European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday May 7, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9education classroom close up Eric Gentry principal at we Brucken elementary school relaxes with the Book a red storm rising on the roof of his school. In late november Gentry promised to spend a Day on the roof if his 2,000 students would read 12,000 books by May 11. To Date students have read More than 18,000 books. Principals everywhere troubled by soaring illiteracy rates and the unwillingness of Many of americans 33 million elementary school students to do assigned Reading Are resorting to this Challenge do the Reading and you can watch your principal do strange things. Stateside foolery so far has included dressing like a Raisin sitting in a Pool of jello and milking a cow in a school gymnasium. Gentry turns in a Book report this week. A amps Lynda davidson4th-graders who aided refugees honoured by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Lan Stuhl West Germany a children at Lan Stuhl elementary school care. As proof the schools four fourth Grade classes can show the to shirts that they received for being named winners in Scholastic annual Scholastic news a kids care the tale behind the to shirts begins last fall. Amy Peaceman one of the fourth Grade teachers Learned then that East German refugees settling in the Lan Stuhl area desperately needed clothing and that Many of their children had left behind favorite toys. From that spark of an idea came a full fledged drive for clothing and toys for the refugees. Peaceman talked the plan Over with teachers Karen Kantor Sandra Shingler and Camilla Smith. They decided it would make a terrific fourth Grade project. Children in the classes wrote letters to their parents and friends asking them to contribute items that they no longer needed or used. A they left because they wanted a better life a wrote one student. A when they left East Germany they had to leave a lot of things like toys jobs family pets and the students collected enough donations to fill two big vans Peaceman said. After the clothes and toys had been collected and distributed Peaceman Learned of the a kids care she and the other teachers Felt it presented a Good Opportunity to perhaps earn some recognition for the children a hard work. Teachers representing More than 700 schools nationwide and from department of defense dependents schools entered the contest and 18 earned recognition for outstanding contributions. When she Learned that the classes had won Peaceman said a it was a big sur prise and a great Honor each student in the fourth Grade classes earned a White and Rcd a kids care to shirt from Scholastic inc. The organization publishes Scholastic news a newsletter for elementary school children. The contests aim is to recognize schoolchildren for their Good citizenship and Volunteer projects. At a school Assembly to Honor the students Candace Ransing superintendent of Dodds Kaiserslautern District said �?�1 done to think Many of you realize what great times you re living through with the Berlin Wall coming Down. You should All be commended for your rap contest winners Send serious message High school students warn of drug alcohol dangers dropping a message to cold stay off the booze so take a listen to the rhyme you be got nothing to lose. Now teens overseas get drinks at any age and getting gassed up seems to be the rage. A Mark Degerstrom by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern West Germany a three High school rappers put serious drug and alcohol warnings to a beat for Kaiserslautern High schools annual drug free week rap contest held recently. Mark Degerstrom a senior won first place with a rap that has separate verses about alcohol and drugs a Beer or two could be All that it takes to make you lose control and make stupid mistakes. Like you talk too much or make too much noise you make someone mad and then he destroys the Way you feel and the Way you look you lost your sense of direction and your Wallet he took. Now you re nothing but a mess and who a to blame a now you re nothing but a mess and who a to blame is it California coolers or Bartles amp James a a Mark Degerstrom is it California coolers or Bartles amp James Degerstrom said that when he heard about the contest from some friends he headed Home and turned on his drum machine. A i got the ideas out of my head and practice each line As the rap progressed he said. His parents senior master sgt. And mrs. Donald Degerstrom of Sembach a weren t always pleased with the constant drum beat. But a dad was pretty Happy when he heard about the first place finish Degerstrom said. Tenth grader Jay Rudisel rapped into second place with the rap that began headlines today Are swamped by the drug scene first time curiosity addiction then hooked fiend. In a speaking on a topic that most wish to ignore. Children on a Corner Selling out to a big score. Rudisel worked on his rap in the Library and at Home. He said he usually raps about things he knows a friends himself places he a been. This rap was different. Rudisell a parents. Tech. Sets. Eva and Herbert Rudisel of Ramstein a were interested in each line of the rap a never time i wrote More they wanted to hear Rudisel said. Third place went to ninth grader Kenny Smith. Smith said he thought about the rap for about 20 minutes before writing it out. Smiths rap begins those who chose to use will lose but i refuse to do drugs or even drink booze a cause it does no to soothe the mind and you re sure to find in the Long run drugs will Blind. Smiths parents. Tech sgt. Kenneth and Vanessa Smith of Sembach a and Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center Arentt big rap fans. But that did no to Stop them from being pleased with his Fine show at the High schools Assembly. Smith said his father is even encouraging him to keep writing raps with an Eye toward Selling them. As Smith reminds his fellow students if a soul is free of drugs ones mind will Shine and glow so just say no
