A wonderfully delightful clip from the Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition of Devendra Banhart performing "At the Hop" at the 2006 Concert.
After viewing -- if you didn't know already -- you'll see that it's all about the kids.
The package is set for release on October 24.
More details can be found at Bridge School 25th Anniversary Edition.
Pre-order on DVD - Amazon.com - Bridge School Concert 25th Anniversary
& CD - Amazon.com - Bridge School Concert 25th Anniversary
& VINYL - Amazon.com - Bridge School Concert 25th Anniversary
(Thanks! You'll be supporting both the Bridge School and Thrasher's Wheat! *International* orders, please use country links in middle column.)100% of sales go to the Bridge School... because it's all about the kids. fyi, TW will be making a donation on behalf of readers this year, as well.
More on upcoming 25th Anniversary 2011 Bridge School Benefit Concert.
Beautiful clip and song! Glad to see Bert Jansch playing in there too. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes me think too much about the millions of kids who don't have the kind of advocacy and support the kids from the Bridge have through the fundraising efforts of Neil, family, and friends.
ReplyDeleteThis school is sitting in the middle of the richest suburb in California and you'd think there would be enough money just from the property taxes alone in that suburb to go around for all the kids in California who have limited means of communication because their school cannot afford the equipment, facility, teachers, and therapies like they have at the Bridge.
Something is wrong here, don't you think? I mean if Neil has got to round up his friends to do concerts for a private school in the middle of one of the richest suburbs in the US serving a little under 50 kids each year just so they can learn how to communicate, what the heck do you think is happening to the rest of the kids impacted by the same communication challenge around the country?
Good for Neil and friends, but doesn't anyone see what's wrong with this picture? Sure, we would hope that there is a Bridge School for every kid in America, but there isn't.
I'm not saying don't buy this. Please buy this DVD and CD, but don't forget about the kids in your own community who don't have access to a school like the Bridge. There are kids and adults in the US going without therapies because they live on the margins in under-funded school districts supported by organizations also stuck out in the margins begging for every dime just to keep their not-for-profit organizations running.
They don't have mothers and fathers who can invite their friends over to put on a concert or sell DVD concerts with famous rock stars.
@Mother Nature - great sentiments.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. As we agreed in another thread, the world is indeed upside down.
Strange things happen when worlds collide.
teach your children well...
peace
Thrasher, I just wish we could package the philosophy & methodology driving the therapies at the Bridge School and serve it up to each child around the world according to their communication need.
ReplyDelete.."put me in your blue skys"'....
ReplyDeleteyou've got the prettiest face.
that's a goodie. love to see the kids up there in the mix, and smiling.
These concerts are somthing. What a deal. I'm quite sure the artists who come and perform are touched in ways they couldn't conceive before participating. Well done Peggy and Neil.
Yes, after 25 years, one would hope an artist would give pause to the REAL reason why this school needs to raise money for their school; because the school district apparently does not offer alternative special education classes teaching kids how to communicate affectively in the classroom.
ReplyDelete(Sony, Please don't turn this into a "Jerry's Kids" phenom...)
Hopefully, these artists are more than touched by what they experience. Hopefully, they walk away empowered to help other kids in their own community.
Jerry's Kids? - not sure on that one Mom.
ReplyDeleteMy reactions and commnet was for the inclusion of the children as part of the program, not as the promotion/usery of them. I percive the dignity of the individuals being recognized by the school, as a normal part scholastic acheivements. And it seems to show with the kids as they are able to communicate, a joyfull release from the straightjacket they are in verbally.
The lack of similar opportunities for others in need of their program
is obviously something to be championed in any community, and hopefully this release of music DVD and CD can help bring that about.
It's the what did we know and when did know it question. And what did we do about it that counts.
I hope you're right, Sony ...
ReplyDeleteSONY & MNOTR: As we mentioned at the top, its the kids that matter but they need the support and environment of the parents & teachers to succeed. And that's where we fans come in trying to help out.
ReplyDeleteIt's organizations like the Bridge School which can open so many eyes about what really matters and hopefully make us all -- both as individuals and a community -- better for it.
That's all we're trying to say.
peace
"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."
~~ Mother Teresa
ps - How Better Parenting Could Produce Fewer Greedy Bankers and More People Who Care About the Future of the Earth | | AlterNet
ReplyDeleteSome of us treat life like a game of survival and some of us treat our survival like a gift.
ReplyDeleteIt's what we feel in our hearts that drives our existence here on this planet.
I think you just summed up Neil Young in your last sentence.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, I have a special needs son who is thankfully higher functioning than the average Bridge School Kid but still needs lots of special attention. I tried to use my district to get him services and it was sadly pathetic and I ultimately had to put him into a private school that we pay for out of pocket ... the costs are more than one can imagine but, despite the high property taxes we pay here in NJ, the services the district was ready to offer were low grade ... sadly, I think the school systems are just not well enough funded for even 'regular' kids ... yea its sad and your sentiments are well expressed ... a lot of special needs kids can be mainstreamed if they get the help they need early and I'm sure most of them don't ... I tip my hat to Neil and Pegi for what they've done because every single kid counts and you gotta start somewhere .. they're helping out a bunch which is fabulous ... I guess for the rest ... we need people like Buffet to stop talking about other people paying more taxes and have him start actually paying some himself ...