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 Neela Sakaria: Thank you for your time. Please tell our readers a little bit about your background.
Vera Hirschhorn: I've been in education for over thirty years as a teacher, professional developer at annual teachers' conferences in N.J. and Florida; consultant and speaker at Gifted/Talented Convocations, Channel 9 WOR-TV, N.J.E.A.Radio-38 stations for the Speaking of Schools programs; Founder of Children's Creativity Day; Publisher of The Kids' Press; Writer for the Sun Sentinel and Palm Beach Post Newspapers in Education Supplements as well as for Recovery Today.
Most recently, I've written for the Florida Mock Election Project, Dept. of State and my America's Young Heroes text and Journal series. I am, also, the Founder of the Celebration of AMERICA'S YOUNG HEROES MONTH CONTESTS in which students, grades 7-10 are invited to nominate a young hero from their home, school or community in an essay, poem or artwork. I am very proud to have received a "red wagon" pin from the local Boca Raton chapter of General Colin Powell's America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth. In addition, the former mayor and city council of Boca Raton, the School Board of Palm Beach County and the Board of County Commissioners issued a Proclamation to declare November as America's Young Heroes Month in Palm Beach County schools.
With regard to my books, I was honored by the Florida State Association of the National League of American Pen Women to receive the 2001 First Place Award for a published juvenile book. The League was founded in 1897 by the niece of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and seventeen professional women to end discrimination of women in the press. First Lady Pen Women include Edith Wilson, Grace Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
 Neela: What inspired you to create this series of books?
VH: As a teacher of gifted/talented students in the middle school, I came across a magazine article at our school library, in the 1980's, that referred to the thousands of teens who voluntarily enlisted during the Civil War. I was so impressed that I began to research the contributions of teens throughout America's history; in so doing, I realized that they were truly young heroes in the traditional and non-traditional sense. Their diaries, journals, letters and memoirs revealed heroic attributes such as patriotism, citizenship, responsibility, friendship, compassion and caring.
Soon, I had produced a supplemental resource text for Social Studies teachers entitled, America's Young Heroes in the Military & Government, 1680's-1990's Publishers suggested that I create a series which resulted in: America's Young Heroes: A Journal for You; Learn About Yourself, Learn the Lessons of the Civil War.
My recent labor of love, America'sYoung Heroes Journal: A Celebration, was born in May,2002 as a result of the 3rd annual Celebration of America's Young Heroes Month contests. As mentioned in Question one, I originated this tribute to heroic youngsters in 1999 at the peak of the tragic school violence, nationwide. My intention was to promote safe schools and safe environments.
I became passionate about reaching all students,K-12 through their teachers, administrators, guidance professionals and youth leaders. I wanted to provide them with inspiration, empowerment, self confidence. hope and optimism. I wanted to help them become aware of the many POSITIVE, PEACEFUL CHOICES they have available when resolving life's challenges at home, school, community or country. I wanted to encourage them to identify their strengths, talents, skills, interests and hobbies so as to embrace them in their constructive choices.
And so, I wrote and compiled the award winning essays, poetry and artwork from the America's Young Heroes contests for AYHJ: A Celebration. What's amazing is that the same heroic attributes-patriotism, citizenship, responsibility, friendship, respect for self and others, compassion and caring appear in these writings of the 21st century as they did during the Civil War era in the 19lth century,over one hundred years ago! Neela: In light of recent events in this country, there has been an emphasis on every day heroes--including firemen, policemen and others. Do you think the definition of a "hero" has changed over time in American history?
VH: To a degree. The heroes in the traditional sense, undoubtedly, have been our military, police, firemen and women who chose to courageously sacrifice their life in the call of duty. However, I wanted to demonstrate that everyone of all ages especially youngsters has the potential to think, speak and act like the hero he/she was born to be.
My definition of a hero doesn't necessarily include self sacrifice. To me, a hero overcomes mental, emotional or physical challenges with optimism and a positive attitude. Also, he/she thinks of constructive CHOICES & solutions for PEACEFUL ACTIONS.
A hero, as demonstrated in the real life stories written by and for teens in my AMERICA'S YOUNG HEROES JOURNAL: A CELEBRATION, refers to young heroes as compassionate, caring, responsible, honest, respectful of self and others and sometimes self sacrificing human beings. I'd like to emphasize that my young heroes are not necessarily perfect; nevertheless, they're still worthy, unique individuals.
Neela: Tell us about the journals. What makes them unique and how can readers use them?
VH: They help teachers:
• convey hopefulness, optimism, empowerment, positivism and trust
• develop the innate heroic attributes of students who are special, worthy, talented yet imperfect human beings capable of heroic thoughts, words and actions when faced with daily challenges at home, school ,community or country.
• "reach an audience not tapped traditionally."
• teach acceptance of what is beyond one's control and the courage to change that which is within one's control
• provide students with inspirational historical and/or contemporary young role models who triumphed over conflicts, hardships or suffering
• teach the awareness of CHOICES
• character education. The Legislature such as in the state of Florida passed a Senate Bill for each district school board to develop or adopt a curriculum to stress the qualities of patriotism, responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty, self-control, tolerance and cooperation. I believe my Celebration of America's Young Heroes Month contests and journals are excellent examples to implement and include in the curriculum.
Neela: What kind of a response have your books gotten so far?
VH: Thus far, I've received orders nationwide from National Park bookstores such as in Shiloh, TN, retail teachers' stores such as Teachers ' Edition, school librarians, individual teachers and parents.
Neela: What do you hope readers will gain from the Young Heroes Journals?
VH: I hope that the journals will assist educators, guidance professionals, librarians and youth leaders to implement my "hero activities" so as to empower their students to view their challenges as "gifts" and to inspire them to affirmatively overcome that which is trying to overcome them.
Neela: Are you working on any other projects?
VH: Yes, thanks to the positive feedback from educators.
My new project is an extension of the contests and young heroes journals. I'm creating a Character Education Exchange whereby teachers, K-12 are invited to share their original lesson plans for a forthcoming America's Young Heroes Journal, Book III for possible publication.
In fact, teachers, nationwide, are welcome to contribute young hero/character development lesson plans which are intended to empower students to learn to overcome their mental, emotional or physical challenges with an optimistic attitude, positive choices and solutions.
My hero activities such as the Talent/Skills.... Survey, for example, were created to inspire all students, whether victims of bullies , the bullies themselves or just ordinary teens faced with difficult issues, to identify their heroic human attributes and/or talents/skills so as to apply them for beneficial, peaceful solutions.
Teachers can mail the above to:
America's Young Heroes
Character Education Exchange
P.O. Box 810561
Boca Raton, Fl 33481
or email to ameryoungheroes@webtv.net
Neela: Thank you.
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