On Friday afternoon, Sept. 24,
Jennifer Meade, principal of the Dungannon Intermediate School,
introduced the performance of "My Story, My Voice." She explained
that Anndrena Belcher, through a partnership of the school and the Clinch River Educational Center, had
worked with the students to look at the teaching and traditions
embodied in the life stories of home and family.
"Everybody has a story, everybody has a voice," Belcher explained.
Fifty-three of the 77 students chose to share bits and pieces of what
they learned in interviewing their grandparents and other relatives or
as Belcher calls them "elders." Some brought in archival
photographs. Others drew images of family members, home place
structures and local landmark structures associated with "living
memory."
Some of these stories included the "Old Black Bridge" which used to
cross the Clinch River, the "Old Fincastle Church," which our young
storyteller tells us is "haunted," and the "Railroad Depot," which used
to sit "by the railroad tracks!" says one young man. All were
remembered in different chosen, sharing formats.
Memories of Fort Blackmore compiled by the students were "It washed
away in the flood," bemoans a young male student, who lives down that
way. "There used to be a barber shop, a bank and other
shops. There was a lot going on there."
Stories about homemade cakes, brownies, salsa, candy, pear butter,
apple butter, lovely hand appliqued pillowcases, embroidery, a story
sung or read, a living tradition captured in a handclap game, life on
the Clinch River described in a fishing story --- complete with advice
as to how to "cast your line, but don't throw the rod in the water!",
these and original songs along with the harmonica playing debut of
Andrew Anderson, rollicking "backup" rhythm and singing by language
arts and math teachers along with Natalie Adams made for a total
learning celebration.
Twenty-two students decided to speak in front of the microphone at this
performance.
"Speaking in front of a mic takes a lot of courage and trust in the
audience and in the spirit of self," Belcher said. "Some parents
and grandparents were in attendence. That is a big deal!"
According to the Virginia Standards of Learning, oral expression,
language arts, and social studies are integrated as each student looks
at his or her own "personal history."
"Everybody makes history," Belcher confirmed. "By having students
identify image and emotion around personal story they are learning to
trust "living memory." The elders have always taught by passing
on skills, information, creative thinking and problem solving, through
the natural day to day storytelling process. Every bit of
information is not stored in a micro chip. Human beings possess
many kinds of intelligence. We saw that here at the Dungannon
Intermediate School!"
Belcher likes to combine what she calls all the ways of learning.
She has served as a touring artist for the Virginia Commission for the
Arts for the past 20 years. The late Studs Terkel, author and
oral historian, noted her importance in helping to preserve traditional
family stories.
"Anndrena Belcher is one of our secret national treasures," Terkel
said. "We may have lost our tribal memory, at least for the
moment. It is an artist like Anndrena Belacher who can help us
recapture it."
She will be performing at the Dungannon Intermediate School Fall
Fundraiser set for Friday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. Some students
may share their research at the festival as well.
This Friday, Oct. 1, Belcher will be performing at Fort Blackmore
Primary School at 1 p.m. Parents and other relatives are invited.
Additional information abot Belcher can be found at www.anndrena.com or on MySpace.
To contact her for bookings call (276) 494-2163 or email anndrenabelcher@aol.com.
Published in Scott County Virginia Star,
September 29, 2010.