Riverside Resident Victoria Rose Participates in Local Inter-generational Program

School One, a small, independent high school in Providence, is partnering with the Rhode Island Center for the Book at the Rhode Island Council for Humanities for Reading Across Rhode Island’s 2016 program One Book, One State. This program, now in its 14th year, is a statewide reading initiative. This year’s selected book is The Wright Brothers by Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough.

In January Michael Fox, English teacher and Humanities Coordinator, and Diana Champa, Program Director, welcomed local retirees from Hamilton House Adult Learning Exchange to join a book club with high school students from School One, a high school known for its arts centered curriculum. Meeting monthly to discuss, analyze and critique The Wright Brothers this multi generational approach is one of its kind.

When asked about this new program at School One, Michael Fox, English teacher and Humanities Coordinator said, “Because classes at School One are discussion based not lectures. As teachers we have freedom to choose opportunity to teach and design programs we know will engage students. We have longer class periods than most schools so there’s more in-depth discussions and chances to do coordinate programs like our intergenerational book club. And Hamilton House is in our neighborhood, within walking distance, they were an ideal group to invite into our school. Our students have an opportunity to learn and be engaged in a classroom with members a generation different than their own."

Jessica Haley, Hamilton House Director, noted that there was a waiting list for the book club. “Reading The Wright Brothers is proving to be an exciting and stimulating experience for the high school students and retirees involved. When we first announced the book club we had to put members on a wait list it was so popular!”

It wasn’t just the retirees who were excited. More than a dozen high school students volunteered for the program and have been attending meetings and discussions since January.

“As a student I spend a large part of my day with people my own age. This book club has given me the opportunity to interact with more adults. I loved talking with members of Hamilton House, not only about the book, but about their lives in general Some are teachers, travelers, writers, lifelong learners and lovers of good discussions.”  ~ Victoria Rose, School One student

Members from the book club will attend a May event with the author David McCoullough, sponsored by Rhode Island Center for the Book at the Rhode Island Council for Humanities.

School One expects to continue the program next year.