Each item tells a story. Pulled together, the stories weave a history. While preserving these histories is essential for keeping a people together, one educator says the act of telling may be equally important. Sharing of family stories is a critical element in bringing the family closer and bringing generations together. Stories become the glue that cements a family.
Stories are part of a child's identity and help develop a sense of pride.
Officials at Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation agree. The BJE must secure matching grants for the four-year proposal. The Family Folklore Project picks up where the BJE's Family History Video Project leaves off. It extends that curriculum to seventh, eighth and ninth grades, one year at a time, while building a more active role for students' parents. But family storytelling engages people on a deep level.