Dear Kimberly,
I am writing in response to Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. I am a teacher for the Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center located in Muncie, Indiana. I work with juveniles who are currently awaiting detention hearings. These juveniles have various charges such as runaway, theft, battery, possession of marijuana/cocaine and criminal mischief. They often come from homes of violence and neglect. The majority of the juveniles have either been suspended or expelled from their schools, or have quit school altogether. They have little self-esteem or self-discipline and do not have academic goals. When asked about life plans or longevity, they show no hope or enthusiasm for their futures.
As an educator, I often feel helpless and discouraged with this student population. The students come from such diverse backgrounds that I need materials that bridge their differences and provide a common ground for discussion and icebreakers. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul has come to my rescue many times. This book is one of the few tools I can use in the detention classroom that will actually spark interest or a glimpse of emotion. Even those students who have not previously shown any effort to read or to check out library books will specifically ask for your teenage helping. It is amazing to see a juvenile laughing to himself in his seat or to see tears welling up in the eyes of a student who has tried so hard for so long to hide her feelings.
I will never forget one very depressed and distraught student. She refused to participate in class, counseling or recreation. She had come to us with a list of charges and was awaiting a court date. She appeared tired all the time and had obviously given up on all adults. Finally, she was introduced to your book in our classroom. She began copying poems, reading the stories and, finally, sharing her favorites with the other students. Because of the book’s ability to expose her loneliness she found a common ground that allowed her to discuss and share her feelings with others.
Thank you. Thank you for proving to me that no matter where a juvenile has come from, what they have experienced, or where they are going, they can still be reached. They have hearts yearning to be touched. I will continue to use your books in the detention center classroom, encouraging each student to read a selection. I am very appreciative of your stories, and I know my students gratefully thank you as well.
Sincerely,
Kari J. Lee
Helping Others
We have received hundreds of letters from teachers similar to this one. We are currently working on a project called “Soup and Support for Teachers,” which will give teachers the opportunity to use these books free of charge along with a guidebook called 101 Ways to Use Chicken Soup in the Classroom. If you would like to know more about this program and find out ways you can help or to be a recipient of this program, contact:
Soup and Support for Teachers
P.O. Box 999
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
310-573-3655
Also, we have sent a classroom set of books to Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center in Kari Lee’s name, and she will be a contributor to our 101 Ways guidebook.