Center Newsletter Now Sent Bi-Monthly

The Center for Children and Childhood Studies has found our monthly update to be an effective tool for communicating with our various constituents and supporters. In the past five months, though, our mailing list has increased to over 600 individuals. We have decided to change the format of our newsletter - it will be a professionally printed trifold newsletter, mailed bi-monthly. Please look for your next issue in July. If you know of anyone who would like to be included on the mailing list to receive our newsletters, please contact Deanne Farrell, Center Administrator, at 856-225-6741.

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Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy Library Outreach Initiative

The students of the Rutgers-Camden Chapter of the National Psychology Honor's Society (Psi Chi) had yet another successful story and craft program on April 10th, 2001. The students presented a pirate theme that featured the stories "Edward and the Pirates" and "Do Pirates Take Baths?" Twenty-five children from Camden attended along with seven parents. The children made pirate masks, telescopes and parrots to wear on their shoulder. The children constructed a pirate ship from large boxes and sailed for gold chocolate coins hidden in the children's library. For three of the children it was their first visit ever to the Camden City Library. Six of the children in attendance did not have library cards. Each signed up for one. All of the children were able to take home six brand new, age appropriate books provided through the Campaign.

This program was advertised through our day care and elementary school partners throughout the City of Camden. Six programs have been provided in all, reaching 118 children. Over 500 new and used books have been distributed to these children. Funding for the program was made possible by a generous grant through the James L. and John S. Knight Foundation.

If you would like to learn more about the reading event or becoming a volunteer reader, please contact Angela Connor-Morris, Program Coordinator, at 856-225-6741 or ibconnor@camden.rutgers.edu.

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Upcoming Events.

June 2, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Rutgers Alumni Regatta Picnic on the banks of the Cooper River in Cherry Hill. Please call the RUTGERS-CAMDEN Alumni Office at 856-225-6028 if you have any questions.

June 14, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon - Campbell's Soup Foundation's 27th Annual Summer Program Kick-Off. The Camden STARR program and 26 other organizations will celebrate the benefits of Campbell Soup Foundation's Summer Program which will provide $400,000 to programs that serve more than 10,000 Camden children this summer.

June 27, 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. - Dr. Perri Klass, Medical Director of the National Reach out and Read Center will present Grand Rounds at Cooper Hospital in the Education and Research Building, second floor. Space is limited, so please rsvp to Angela Connor at 856-225-6741.

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Adoption in American Literature

Carol Singley, PhD

Dr. Carol Singley, Associate Professor of English spoke at the Thursday, February 15, 2001 associates' seminar about her project "Adoption in American Literature." This project is supported with funds the Center received from the Rutgers University SROA program. Dr. Singley took associates of the Center for Children and Childhood Studies on a wide-ranging tour of the "literature and culture of adoption." She reminded the associates that many of the most renowned novelists, among them Edith Wharton, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and William Faulkner, have examined the subject of orphaned children. Even the current children's literary phenomenon, Harry Potter, deals with this topic. The subject of adoption allows novelists to identify a whole series of life problems and potential solutions: conflict in families, integration of the past and future prospects, loss and separation, even contrast of class.

In the 19th century, orphaned children were frequently expected to earn the "privilege" of adoption. Orphans were depicted as members of the underclass - with adoption seen as an opportunity for improvement in their class. There were also gender distinctions. Girls were usually welcomed into the hearth, while boys were mentored and then expected to set off on their own. There is an enormous contrast between this and the previous centuries' attitude toward orphans. In fact, approximately 20,000 children from the northeastern part of the U.S. were transported west on "orphan trains" as cheap labor.

The current culture is much more sensitive to the rights of children who are not raised by their birth parents. Professor Singley's forthcoming book, Adoption in American Literature and Culture will explore the full range of attitudes toward orphans and adoption revealed and sometimes even shaped by American literature.

Reported by:
Ed Mauger, Center Volunteer

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In The News

Bill Whitlow, Associate Director of the Center for Children and Childhood Studies and Professor of Psychology, recently spoke at a meeting of the Society for Women Environmental Professionals about Environmental Justice and Indoor Air Quality. He discussed the Asthma Management and Urban Lead Education and Training project.

Myra Bluebond-Langner is the co-editor with Bryan Lask, Consultant Psychiatrist, St. George's Eating Disorders Service, St. George's Hospital Medical School and Denise B. Angst, Director of Pediatric Research, Lutheran General Children's Hospital of a new book, Psychosocial Aspects of Cystic Fibrosis. The book is published in the UK by Arnold Publishing, and in the US by Oxford University Press.

Myra Bluebond-Langner gave Pediatric Grand Rounds on March 21 at Johns Hopkins Medical Center for Children's Health Week.

Stuart Charme is one of three Provost's Teaching Excellence Awardees. The award honors faculty who display commitment to expanding their teaching abilities. Dr. Charme recently developed a new freshman seminar series program for the campus.

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New Grants Received

Rutgers University-Center for the Arts' summer program received a grant from the Campbell's Soup Foundation for $25,000. For more information about the Center for the Arts' summer program, please contact Noreen Garrity at 856-225-6350.

The Camden STARR (Sports Teaching Adolescents Responsibility and Resiliency) program, directed by Dan Hart and Robert Atkins, received a grant from the Campbell's Soup Foundation for $7,500. For more information about STARR, please contact Dan Hart, Associate Dean of Rutgers University Camden College of Arts and Sciences at 856-225-6515.

The Center for Children and Childhood Studies received a $50,000 grant from the Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies. These funds will be used to support Center operational activities as well as the newly developed Minor in Childhood Studies and the Healthy Futures for Camden Youth Project.

Rutgers University's SROA Program has awarded the Center for Children and Childhood Studies $90,000 for Center operations and programs. Please contact Deanne Farrell at 856-225-6741 for more information.