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When college Professor Hal Alpiar learned of senior citizens suffering scams in New Jersey, he devised a way to help by sending students to educate the victims. Currently residing in Millsboro, this national award-winning author, educator and business consultant seeks to use a similar program to help aid literacy for Sussex County youth.
The “Tales on Wheels” program is an outside-the-box solution to what Alpiar sees as a major ongoing problem in Delaware - a low literacy rate.
“I’ve been astounded to see some of the figures on literacy and education in Delaware,” said Alpiar. “In order to deal with these problems, you need to start at the grassroots level with young kids.”
The teacher’s plan is designed to help academically undernourished children throughout the state by supplying Sussex County with a children’s creative mobile classroom. The buses involved in the program would transport professional teachers and volunteers to areas where teachers are overburdened and home-school efforts are sabotaged by inadequate learning tools and family economics, he noted.
Courses offered to children would include creative writing, journaling, poetry and stage performance.
“What I want to do is to have kids visited once a week, where they have opportunities to write, to learn the great value of books and most importantly, to be given an opportunity to do stand-up presentations,” said Alpiar. “[The program] will supplement what schools provide by giving kids a chance to learn more about how to express themselves.”
“When a student can express himself in a positive way, that child is enhancing his own self-esteem and sense of self-confidence,” noted the teacher. “Tales on Wheels will help children in the community by challenging them to perform at their best.”
To start the pilot program, Alpiar seeks the sponsorship of a college, university or business internship program. Faculty, including a full-time director, will be needed to bring services to children throughout the state.
Alpiar estimates a $250,000 budget would be required for the launch of “Tales on Wheels” with funds obtained through government grants along with the support of local businesses and individual contributors. Financial assistance for the project will be used to purchase equipment, learning materials and a renovated school bus.
Support for the program is already being expressed by educators and business professionals throughout Delmarva.
Haley Murphy, prominent children’s theater producer/ director/instructor and former creative director for the Source Theater in Washington, D.C., has endorsed the project by offering consulting services.
The director for the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild, Maribeth Fischer, has also displayed interest in partnership with the program.
Alpiar invites prospective volunteers to help launch and sustain “Tales on Wheels.” Partners and sponsors are needed as well as help from insurance, accounting, banking and legal service providers.
“Sponsoring ‘Tales on Wheels’ is a great way to support literary enhancement in the state,” noted Alpiar. “I believe whole-heartedly that this is a worthwhile investment that will benefit our community.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering for “Tales on Wheels” can contact Alpiar by calling 302-933-0116, or contact him via email at Hal@thewriterworks.com.
Tom Walsh can be contacted at tomwalsh1@verizon.net
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