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Reminder Assistant Editor AGAWAM When a student asks, "What is six million?" how can a teacher provide a definitive or tangible answer? Does the teacher say it's more than 5,999,999 and less than 6,000,001? Does the teacher venture out of the classroom with the student and count six million people as they walk the streets of North America? How can a teacher describe the devastation inflicted on the six million Jews and five million others who perished as a result of the Nazi Holocaust? In 1998, teachers and administrators at Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn. population 1,600 decided to take a unique approach to answer their student's question; they began collecting one paper clip to memorialize each of the 11 million people murdered during the Holocaust. In 2001, an article in the Washington Post turned the after school "Paper Clips" project to promote tolerance and diversity in a school of 425 students, predominately white Christians into a nationwide phenomenon, which allowed the students to collect over 20 million paperclips. This prodigious experience for those in Whitwell was captured through a profound cinematic illustration by longtime documentary filmmaker Joe Fab. Two free public screenings of "Paper Clips: Changing the World . One classroom at a time," funded by the Democratic Committee and Cultural Council, will take place on March 10 at Agawam Family Cinemas. The first showing at 3:35 p.m. is for students and senior citizens and a second showing at 5:45 p.m. is for the general public. "It's the most incredible film I've ever seen," Jay Berger, member of the Democratic Committee, and the organizer of the event, said. "If you don't come away with three handkerchiefs soaking wet then you haven't really seen it." He added that after viewing the film on DVD several months ago the messages of tolerance and diversity resonated with him so deeply he had to bring the film together with the community. "I just thought that if we could show it on the big screen it would mean so much more," Berger said. In an interview with Reminder Publications, Fab explained that when he looks for documentary subject matter it is not necessarily the "who" but the "why" that draws him to a story. "All the media coverage that I saw [about the "Paper Clips" project] emphasized that this town was such an unlikely place for this to happen," Fab explained. However, he added that was not what compelled him to Whitwell; instead, he asked himself, "Why do they want to do this?" Fab explained that upon traveling to Whitwell he realized that this was absolutely the most "likely place" for a project of this social, educational and emotional magnitude to take place. While those in Whitwell might not be as culturally, religiously or ethnically diverse as other communities, Fab explained that the people were far more generous, polite and hospitable. "The children in that school [Whitwell Middle School] actually live their values," Fab said. The film chronicles the students, faculty, staff and community's emotional journey through the "Paper Clips" project and their experiences when four Holocaust survivors visit Whitwell. The humanity and overwhelming candidness of the Whitwell residents becomes paramount at one point in the film when assistant principal David Smith, who had the idea for the project, reveals his raw experiences to the filmmakers. "It's very easy to have our own unconscious stereotypes," Fab explained of Smith, who is also a football coach and history teacher. "He's a Southern guy and whatever you're expecting, it's not going to be that he'll open up in such a huge way [about his own experiences with his father's racist behaviors and his unwillingness to follow in those footsteps]. "It's disarming. Like you suddenly zoom into his personal, tender, sensitive side. He's revealing in such a personal way that working with children and being a part of this whole process had an enormous impact on him," Fab recalled. "To me this was one of the most remarkable things about making the film." Fab said he knew the filming was completed on the project when "the students became the teachers." In 2001 the students at the school completed their project having collected over 20 million paper clips. The school created a permanent memorial to the project and to Holocaust victims, which was dedicated on the anniversary of Crystal Night (Kristallnacht, Nov. 9, 1938). The Children's Holocaust Memorial includes 11 million paper clips contained in a donated World War II railcar, which was used to transport people to concentration camps. Eleven million additional paper clips form a statue adjacent to the railcar. This profound filmmaking experience has yet to end for Fab as he continues to appear at community screenings. He said this film taught him "how powerful young people really are and how willing and capable they are about doing things." Fab said when speaking about this film to communities he "wants to awaken as many young people as possible to their own power as early as possible. And I want the adults to empower them," he added. The "Paper Clips" project still exists today. The project has established three financial goals: to maintain their memorial, create a scholarship for a senior and member of the Holocaust Study Group and to create a facility to house additional Holocaust artifacts. For additional information about "Paper Clips: Changing the World . One classroom at a time" go to www.paperclipsmovie.com. For more information about the "Paper Clips" project or Whitwell Middle School go to www.whitwellmiddleschool.org. |
