An Enlightenment Presentation (created by Jim Hill and Eva Scher)

"Talking about being different on your first day of school."

... dedicated to Joel Goldman (with a severe expression of Treacher Collins Syndrome) and his mom Christina ...        

     On October 4th Eva and I flew to Vancouver, British Columbia and  took the ferry to the city of Parksville on Vancouver Island. Christina met us at the ferry terminal and filled us in on the criteria for the next morning's engagement.  There would be an audience of over two hundred students from kindergarten to grade six. We would have a limited speaking time. Our presentation would have to meet with the approval of the principal and teaching staff. They had read    The Open Pathway/Le Voie Libre ...

     October 5th at 10 am sharp we met with the co-ordinator and school principal. I smiled and quipped. "It has been a long time since I was sent to the principal's office." Everyone laughed and relaxed.

     It was show time. Eva and I were introduced to the assembly. The children were somewhat awed that we had come such a long way to talk with them. They were especially excited to learn that Eva lived in Paris, France.

     I spoke about my first day at school nearly sixty years ago. How excited I was. How shy I was. How much I wanted everyone to like me. I was a little boy who looked different from all the other kids but I wanted to learn so many new things. My mom had taught me all the letters in the alphabet and I could print my name and draw pictures. I drew a picture of cats and dogs and horses; of the sun, moon and stars. I dreamed that I was a special bright star.

     I asked the children if they could see me as a little boy ... as a young man ... as a father and grandfather. I asked if they saw me as being different. Did they see me as I am ... my smile, my gentleness, my tears, my strength and courage?

     Eva touched the hearts and imagination of the children ... seeing her as a gifted teacher and spirited proffessional clown. She told them that as a little girl, she too dreamed she was a bright star. She went among the children ... inviting them to ask questions ... to open their minds, their eyes and their hearts ... encouraging them to see and accept everyone as they are ... for their differences and uniqueness.

     Together we answered the children's questions; saw and felt their genuine desire to understand and accept individual differences.

     We smiled. The video camera continued to roll.