Strive 2B Visits Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
Posted on Dec 2, 2014, by Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
Museum collaborates with local middle school and Rotary club to introduce under served students in the Strive 2B program to glass art
Last week, a group of students from Shattuck Middle School in Neenah visited Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass as part of a program of Neenah Rotary Club called Strive 2B. Having been identified by school counselors as students who need a little extra sunshine and water to help them grow their leadership skills, the students participate with the goals of strengthening their connections in the community and involvement with local organizations and programs, encouraging teamwork and acceptance of others, building self-esteem and improving their performance in school.
At BMMOG, Strive 2B students toured the Paul Stankard exhibition, “Beauty Beyond Nature,” and learned about the artist’s own struggles with traditional learning. Then, students went into the studio. The students worked in The Glass Studio on a fused keychain or pendant for themselves and also a larger collaborative project for the school. As part of the projects, they learned to cut glass which proved to be a self-esteem building experience for most of them.
Like many of us, the students were excited and apprehensive about learning something new. The experience of aspiring artist in particular embodied the purpose of the program.
Before this students picked up the scoring tool she said, “I don’t know I can do this.”
After some encouragement from the staff, Rotarians and school counselors, she took the cutter and dragged it across the glass against the straight edge of a ruler. The first step was well done, but still she said, “I can’t do this.”
They encouraged her go on and use the tool to break the glass along the score. As she squeezed the tool against the glass she said, “I don’t know, I don’t know…oooh.”
Crack!
“Hey, I did it!”
With that crack, not only did she get a clean break of the glass, but ratcheted up her self-confidence a notch. Hopefully, this positive experience in pushing through fear and self doubt will encourage her the next time she encounters a new learning opportunity.
This experience with the Strive 2B group is part of a museum community outreach program to under served populations and was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and Neenah Rotary Club.