Paulette Seiler, a teacher for the hearing impaired at Lindale Middle School served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1969 until 1971



Paulette Seiler, a teacher for the hearing impaired at Lindale Middle School served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1969 until 1971

Central students help tsunami victims
By RODNEY CALVER, For The Capital

Eight students at Central Special School look like kids who can at best ask for help, not give it themselves. Some can't walk. Most can't speak. Seven are sight-impaired. And all have serious developmental disabilities.

But by doing odd jobs over the past 10 days, they've raised more than $600 to help young victims of last month's Southeast Asian tsunami.

"We wanted to make a contribution," said special education teacher Joyce Harai, who came up with the idea.

Her students are among 200 at the Edgewater school that offers a preschool for children ages 3 to 5 and a full-day program for children with severe disabilities, ages 6 to 21.

"Our students have been recipients of some significant donations in the past and we wanted to give back to the world community by having our children work for those in need."

The children took part in a "work-athon," completing tasks including dusting the media room, washing tables in the cafeteria and collecting recycling for teachers and office staff. They were assisted by teachers Rolinda Collinson, Donna Rudnicky and Julie Wright and volunteer May Root of Edgewater.

To teach students about Thailand, where more than 4,000 people were killed by the earthquake and tsunami, Mrs. Harai said wanted to produce a Thai atmosphere, with artifacts from the region and clothing that the students could touch and wear. Several of the children have sensory impairment.

To ensure authenticity, she turned to her friend Paulette Seiler, a teacher for the hearing impaired at Lindale Middle School who served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1969 until 1971.

Miss Seiler provided a Thai puppet, a flute, a picture of a Thai dancer and a pasin, a wrap worn by Thai people when relaxing, and a tape featuring music from Thailand. She also helped Mrs. Harai create wall letters of the Thai alphabet in jasmine rice so students could feel the outline of the characters.

"It was wonderful how (Ms. Harai) was able to expose the children to such a variety of experiences," said Miss Seiler.

Other artifacts from the Thai region were provided by Penny Arp, who is a friend of the school nurse at Central Middle.

Ric Chesek, the school's principal, said: "The work we do here is so different. But this exercise has helped the kids recognize the significance of their own self-worth and dignity in helping others."

The students who took part in the Helping Hands for Thailand project were Michaila Disney, 8, of Edgewater; Jacey Heuer, 11, of Crownsville; Derrick Hopkins, 8, of Annapolis; Sarah Neuman, 8, of Arnold; Adrianna Monday, 7, of Odenton; Kaitlyn Samuels, 8, of Crofton; Shawn Smith, 10, of Gambrills; and Emily Viera, 9, of Edgewater.

The check, which will be sent to Save the Children, will be handed to Mr. Chesek at a ceremony on Friday. The reward for the students and those who contributed? Thai ice cream that the kids are making especially for the occasion.

Rodney Calver is a freelance writer in Harwood.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

January 22, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Spread Freedom — but not at gunpoint 22 Jan Dodd has ring side seat at Inauguration 21 Jan Peace Corps works in Georgia 21 Jan Trey Aven monitored Ukraine elections 21 Jan RPCV group makes quiet indie-pop 21 Jan Anthony Shriver considers race for Florida Governor 20 Jan Thomas Tighe says internet brought funds to DRI 20 Jan Stacy Jupiter researches Australia ecosystems 20 Jan Libby Garvey is education activist 20 Jan David McIntyre captures medals on land and in water 19 Jan Carol Bellamy new president of World Learning 18 Jan Reed Hastings crossed "Latino Caucus'' 18 Jan RPCVs sponsor Freeze for Food to aid Colombia farmers 18 Jan RPCVs urge Bush to aid Democracy in Ukraine 17 Jan Tom Petri proposes changes in student loan program 17 Jan Golden Globe Win for Jamie Foxx in RPCV's "Ray" 17 Jan Stephen Smith is new consul-general in Australia 17 Jan

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Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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