BLOUNTVILLE – A simple class project at a Tennessee middle school grew into an extraordinary international landmark thanks in no small part to the inspiration of school’s principal.
Northeast State Technical Community College welcomes Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper to campus March 23 to present “The Power of One,” the moving story of how the students behind the Paper Clips Project responded to what had been to them a completely unfamiliar chapter in human history - the Holocaust.
The Paper Clips Project grew out of a sense that the students in the homogenous community weren’t learning about the lives and experiences of other groups. As the study progressed, the sheer number of Jews who were exterminated by the Nazis overwhelmed the students. Six million was a number that the students could not remotely grasp.
Upon learning of the project, Hooper gave the students permission to begin a collection, if, they could find something to collect that would have meaning to the project. After some research, the students decided to collect paper clips. This little item carried great symbolism – the people of Norway wore paper clips on their lapels as a silent protest against Nazi occupation during World War II.
Students began bringing in paper clips. The students also asked people to share their reasons for sending a paper clip. To date approximately 30 million paperclips have been sent to Whitwell Middle School. In addition, the project has received more than 30,000 letters, documents, and artifacts.
Hooper’s presentation chronicles how this project would change the students, their teachers, their families and the entire town forever...and eventually, open hearts and minds around the world as this remarkable story became an award-winning film entitled “Paper Clips.”
The paper clip collection has become a part of the “Children’s Holocaust Memorial” created by the students, staff, and community of Whitwell. The memorial contains 11 million paper clips housed in an authentic German transport car honoring the lives of all people murdered by the Nazis. Eighteen (a Hebrew number for life) butterflies (a Christian symbol of renewal) enhance the grounds around the rail car.
Hooper will speak at noon and again at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the main campus 2425 Highway 75, adjacent to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Her presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 423.279.7669 or e-mail jpkelly@NortheastState.edu.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement