College for Kids throws out tired crafts, gains enrichment

Date: 7/28/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD -- When Maryann Walsh took over College for Kids several years ago she threw out the tired arts and crafts curriculum and focused on educational enrichment, minus the boredom of lengthy classroom lectures.

This summer's record-breaking enrollment at College for Kids has proved Walsh's theorem to be a great success. The program allows kids ages five to 16 to participate in weeklong classes from Rocket Science to Lego Mania to Amazing Archeology at Westfield State College.

"This is what community programming is about -- good programs for kids and parental involvement," Walsh said, adding that some parents choose to volunteer in their children's classes.

She explained that College for Kids allows students to practice kinesthetic learning and get a jumpstart on this fall's elementary, middle school or high school curriculums.

Bill Greaney, teacher of Advanced Cartooning, stepped away from his class for a few minutes last week to speak with Reminder Publications about the many benefits of College for Kids. He noted that students in his class not only learn about cartooning but also the art, history and politics associated with the craft.

"Children already know how to draw ... [cartooning] is a great vehicle for learning bits of history," Greaney said, adding that his students learn about characters such as Marvin the Martian and his historical and scientific roots.

He said programs such as College for Kids provide a vital component to summer enrichment at a time when so many school districts are forced to cut art and music programming.

"The fight has to be fought [to preserve art curriculums]," Greaney added. "All kids [who have a background in art] have job potential in this creative economy. Everything you see, buy and wear was designed by someone."

Eleven-year-old Ricky Marcil, a student at Powder Mill Middle School, agreed with Greaney's assessment of creative industry. Marcil paused from his work on his character, the "Crimson Slasher," during Advanced Cartooning to add that he's eager to take his creative genius to the masses.

Christine Soderquist, teacher of "Kids Art Rules!," explained that her class allows students to explore various mediums from watercolors to pastels while learning the fundamentals of still life drawing and portraiture.

"I'm really having fun," Kathryn Sadakierski, a student at Southampton Road Elementary School, said of her time in "Kids Art Rules!" "I usually draw ... [but this class allows me to learn] many more techniques and how to use many mediums.

She added that she'd like to spend her professional career as an illustrator for children's books.

College for Kids will conclude this Friday with courses in Baking and Cake Decorating, Scriptwriting and Play Production and Scrapbooking. Classes will resume next summer with a new catalog of courses.