The Seed of Hope

Barbara Clark painting

 Painting by Barbara Clark, 2009

 Photo by Roy Temple


Storybook Character Day at Smith Elementary (2012)

Aesthetic Education Program Models: Create Compassionate Communities Through Literacy

Educational curriculum and teacher preparation has never been able to envision children’s education for what Earth and sustainable cultures need to thrive, and critically in 2012, to survive. As a society, we tend to be sleepwalkers, anesthetized visually and emotionally, as ecological devastation continues to grow at rapid rates. So, what is education for and how should teachers be prepared to impact children’s and teachers’ future lives? Eisner (2002) implores, “Transforming the private into the public is a primary process of work in both art and science. Helping the young to learn how to make that transformation is another of education’s most important aims” (p. 3).


Storybook Characters Bring Reading to Life: Grand Opening of School Library (2006)

Clark, B. A. & French, J.J. (Spring, 2017). Storybook Characters Come Alive! Aesthetic Compassionate School Community Celebration & Performance. Hearts & Minds Without Fear Arts in Education with CCSU Elementary Education Students, Holmes Elementary School, New Britain, CT.

Clark, B. A., French, J.J. & Gichiru, W. (October, 2012). Storybook Character Day at Smith Elementary. Presented with CCSU elementary education students Town to Smith Elementary School: Grade Two Classroom Students, Teachers, Principal & Vice-Principal, New Britain, CT.

French, J.J. & Clark, B. A. (September, 2012). Storybook Character Day at Linden Street School. Presented with CCSU elementary education students Town to Linden Street School: Grade Three Classroom Students, Teachers & Principal, Plainville, CT.

Clark, B. A. & French, J.J. (April, 2012). CCSU Storybook Characters Meet Children from Smith Elementary School. Presented with CCSU elementary education students to second graders, parents, teachers, and community members of Smith Elementary School, New Britain, CT.

Clark, B. A. & French, J. (October, 2010). CCSU Storybook Characters Meet Children from the International Magnet School. Presented with CCSU elementary education students to second graders, parents, teachers, and community members of International Magnet School: CCSU, East Hartford, CT.

Clark, B. A. & (April, 2010). CCSU Storybook Characters Welcome Sprague Elementary School. Presented with CCSU elementary education students to kindergarteners, parents, teachers, and community members of Sprague Elementary School: CCSU, New Britain, CT.

Clark, B. A. (April, 2007). CCSU Storybook Characters Meet K, 1, and 2 Naylor Children. Presented with CCSU elementary education students to K, 1, & 2 Naylor Children, Teachers, and Community Members: Naylor School, Hartford, CT.

Clark, B. A. (November, 2006). 3rd Grade Students at Naylor Meet Fairytale Character Pen Pals. Presented with CCSU elementary education students to 3rd grade children parents, teachers and community members: Naylor School, Hartford CT.

Clark, B. A. (May, 2006). CCSU Characters Bring Reading to Life. Presented with CCSU elementary education students for the grand opening of Naylor Elementary School library. Hartford, CT.


Storybook Characters Teach Compassion to Kindergarten Children (2010)

All references to outside sources can be found in the bibliography sections of our published work.