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Living textbooks delivered to schools twice weekly


Lane Riggs

Staff writer

Newspapers in Education is often used by teachers as a “living textbook” in the classroom, as a newspaper can serve as an English, math, science or etiquette lesson.

Uvalde Leader-News Newspapers in Education coordinator Olga Charles has been working with schools in Uvalde to bring these valuable lessons into the classroom. Though the project includes five schools in town, there is still room for the project to grow.

The schools – Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s Robb Elementary, Anthon Elementary, Morales Junior High and Uvalde High, as well as Sacred Heart Catholic School – receive copies of Uvalde Leader-News each Monday and Thursday.

For the last school year, 338 newspapers were delivered to students each Monday and Thursday. Charles is aiming to raise that number to 500 in the 2017-2018 school year.

The newspapers aid math and science lessons as teachers use the newspapers as a learning tool.

By using the newspaper, teachers and students can measure advertisements for a math lesson. For English class, there are nouns and verbs.

Though the students use newspapers in the classroom, Newspapers in Education also provides students with experiences.

Students from Batesville School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Knippa High School, Uvalde High School, and Uvalde Classical Academy traveled to the state capitol. While the Legislature was in session, they met with Rep. Tracy King and were able to listen to proceedings on the House floor. At one point, the students were asked to stand, and legislators statewide applauded their presence.

Through trips like this, students are learning more about their town and about Texas. One history lesson involves telling students how the Rose Bowl Stadium got its name; and the story originates in Uvalde.

“I usually tell the third- and fourth-graders the history of the Honey Bowl stadium,” Charles said. “They’ve never heard about the story before, and they never believe it.”

The story starts in 1901, when a local man traveled to Paris, France, with a hundred pounds of honey from Uvalde in tow. He entered this honey into a competition in France and ultimately won, earning Uvalde the title of the “honey capitol of the world.” The town celebrated, and Uvalde High School’s football team – when football was adopted by the school – was named the Honeybees.

However, after a few Honey Bowls in the Honey Bowl Stadium, the team decided to change its name.

“The kids are unbelieving. We can’t find the exact time of the name change, but we think it is around World War I,” Charles said, adding that a person who later died during World War II suggested “Coyotes” as a possibility. It was voted in by the student body.

“I always tell the kids to tell their parents because they probably don’t know about it, as the history of the stadium has never been taught.”

By teaching the students about Uvalde’s history, Charles is hoping to give something back to the parents.

“I try and talk about history because it enlightens the kids. I’m trying to help the parents by doing so, I’m trying to give them something back,” she said. “We get donations, the students get newspapers, and I go in and try to help the parents and teachers.”

Although Newspapers in Education receives donations, Charles said they are in need of help.

“We’re adding Dalton Elementary School to the list of schools we deliver to next year, so I’m really excited, but we need donations,” she said.

Charles said the community can make out checks to Newspapers in Education and mail them to Uvalde Leader-News. One NIE subscription is $14, and any donation counts.

“I’m really excited about what’s happening with Newspapers in Education. We are including Dalton next fall and we’re having a summer program this summer for first graders, which is a biggie,” she said. “I just love this job, I get to do so many things.”

Norma Hill GarciaAn Anthon Elementary student in Belia Canales’ first-grade classroom searches for vocabulary words in Uvalde Leader-News sports editor James Volz’s stories about Uvalde High School sports.

Norma Hill GarciaAn Anthon Elementary student in Belia Canales’ first-grade classroom searches for vocabulary words in Uvalde Leader-News sports editor James Volz’s stories about Uvalde High School sports.

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