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Notes on a Visit from Benjamin Franklin
Barry Stevens, as Ben Franklin, provided my students an opportunity to interact with history! I was impressed how "Ben Franklin" presented himself as a "public listener," rather than a public speaker, to encourage the students to ask questions and interact with him during the Skype experience. His representation of Ben Franklin was knowledgeable, with the appropriate integration of anecdotes, that inspired the students' curiosity. "Ben Franklin" was able to guide the questions and presentation to connect with our current study of the Constitution. He wrapped up the presentation with an excerpt from a primary source; Franklin's own letter regarding why the Constitution deserved ratification. This authenticity can not be replaced by a textbook. I look forward to Barry's expertise in my classroom with future groups of students.
Ms. Sarah Kosmach
Shepard Middle School
Sixth Grade Social Studies/Literacy
"Thank you. You were fabulous and everyone enjoyed having you there"
Mike Scotti
Father of the Bride - Scotti/Dalo Wedding, Philadelphia
Hi Dr. Franklin,
Thank you again for a most delightful performance yesterday. Everyone left with smiles on their faces, and we had many stick around for tours and stop by even after you left. It truly was a wonderful afternoon.
I will be forwarding you the pictures I took yesterday in separate emails.
Please stay in touch,
Regards,
Greg Caggiano - Proprietary House - Perth Amboy, NJ
On Thursday, September 28, Mr. Barry Stevens visited CCDS Middle
Schoolers and gave a presentation of Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Stevens dressed in
colonial regalia, was a visually convincing Franklin, and his one-hour
historical significant soliloquy traced Franklin's life from childhood to the
beginning of the Revolutionary War. Middle School students were spellbound
during the presentation, followed by a lively and extended question/answer
session. Mr. Stevens also made a presentation to the Elementary School.
Park Gilmore,
Cincinnati County Day School
Dear Mr. Franklin/Mr. Stevens,
Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to visit the
children at Lisbon Elementary School in Maryland. The first grade students were
in awe from the minute you walked in. They could not stop staring because you
looked and acted just like Benjamin Franklin! All the students enjoyed the
hour-long question and answer session. They enjoyed asking questions that were
of interest to them particularly about how you got to school that day on your
horses! Your portrayal of Benjamin Franklin was accurate, detailed, complete
and entertaining. Thanks again :)
Jamie Saperstein
Lisbon Elementary School
The students loved the time you spent with them at lunch. It gave them a chance to
ask questions and enjoy the company of a person who lived when the States were
being formed. I would like to share with you a few quotes from the students'
evaluations:
- "The Ben Franklin program was very informative. The man fit
the part very well and had a deep knowledge of the
subject."
- "I felt that Ben Franklin was highly educational and
entertaining"
- "I think the presentation was very realistic and believable. I
was very impressed."
Dr. Madonna Helbling, Principal
Quigley Catholic High School
Barry Stevens is the personification of Ben Franklin. ON the
300th anniversary of Ben Franklin's birth, the Treasury Executive Institute
hosted a book discussion with Larzer Ziff, editor of the new Portable Ben
Franklin. At a strategic moment in the presentation, Ben himself entered the
room, to the gasps of the audience... Mr. Stevens is very adept at staying in
the character to answer questions and interact with the audience. He "knows"
Ben Franklin so well that he is quite effective speaking as B. Franklin,
Printer.
Bruce Nolan
Treasury Executive Institute
Dear Mr. Franklin,
On behalf our Hawthorne House Fine Paper
printing staff I thank you, Sir, for the most pleasant experience of engaging in
conversation with you last Sunday evening at Gadsby's Tavern in
Alexandria,Virginia. It was truly our good fortune that you should be travelling
from Philadelphia to Williamsburg that day so that we might have the opportunity
to better understand the situation in the British Colonies in 1753 while you
were serving as Postmaster General. Our own little town of Occoquan, Virginia
(circa 1734) lies just 16 miles southwest of Alexandria on the stage road to
Williamsburg. If we can ever be of assistance to you during your travels, it
will be our pleasure to do so. Again, thank you most warmly for an a interesting
and entertaining evening of dinner and libations, repartee and
conversation.Godspeed you safely on your journey.
With kind regards, most sincerely,
Diane and Fred Clark Boli, Owners
Hawthorne House Fine Paper
Your outstanding portrayal of Dr. Franklin was the highlight of
the training session on assessing historic leaders. The knowledge you share with
the class was complete, detailed, focused, and delivered in a wonderfully
entertaining and educational method.
Robyn J. Walick
Chief, Management Support Branch
U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency
Click here to edit
Ms. Sarah Kosmach
Shepard Middle School
Sixth Grade Social Studies/Literacy
"Thank you. You were fabulous and everyone enjoyed having you there"
Mike Scotti
Father of the Bride - Scotti/Dalo Wedding, Philadelphia
Hi Dr. Franklin,
Thank you again for a most delightful performance yesterday. Everyone left with smiles on their faces, and we had many stick around for tours and stop by even after you left. It truly was a wonderful afternoon.
I will be forwarding you the pictures I took yesterday in separate emails.
Please stay in touch,
Regards,
Greg Caggiano - Proprietary House - Perth Amboy, NJ
On Thursday, September 28, Mr. Barry Stevens visited CCDS Middle
Schoolers and gave a presentation of Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Stevens dressed in
colonial regalia, was a visually convincing Franklin, and his one-hour
historical significant soliloquy traced Franklin's life from childhood to the
beginning of the Revolutionary War. Middle School students were spellbound
during the presentation, followed by a lively and extended question/answer
session. Mr. Stevens also made a presentation to the Elementary School.
Park Gilmore,
Cincinnati County Day School
Dear Mr. Franklin/Mr. Stevens,
Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to visit the
children at Lisbon Elementary School in Maryland. The first grade students were
in awe from the minute you walked in. They could not stop staring because you
looked and acted just like Benjamin Franklin! All the students enjoyed the
hour-long question and answer session. They enjoyed asking questions that were
of interest to them particularly about how you got to school that day on your
horses! Your portrayal of Benjamin Franklin was accurate, detailed, complete
and entertaining. Thanks again :)
Jamie Saperstein
Lisbon Elementary School
The students loved the time you spent with them at lunch. It gave them a chance to
ask questions and enjoy the company of a person who lived when the States were
being formed. I would like to share with you a few quotes from the students'
evaluations:
- "The Ben Franklin program was very informative. The man fit
the part very well and had a deep knowledge of the
subject."
- "I felt that Ben Franklin was highly educational and
entertaining"
- "I think the presentation was very realistic and believable. I
was very impressed."
Dr. Madonna Helbling, Principal
Quigley Catholic High School
Barry Stevens is the personification of Ben Franklin. ON the
300th anniversary of Ben Franklin's birth, the Treasury Executive Institute
hosted a book discussion with Larzer Ziff, editor of the new Portable Ben
Franklin. At a strategic moment in the presentation, Ben himself entered the
room, to the gasps of the audience... Mr. Stevens is very adept at staying in
the character to answer questions and interact with the audience. He "knows"
Ben Franklin so well that he is quite effective speaking as B. Franklin,
Printer.
Bruce Nolan
Treasury Executive Institute
Dear Mr. Franklin,
On behalf our Hawthorne House Fine Paper
printing staff I thank you, Sir, for the most pleasant experience of engaging in
conversation with you last Sunday evening at Gadsby's Tavern in
Alexandria,Virginia. It was truly our good fortune that you should be travelling
from Philadelphia to Williamsburg that day so that we might have the opportunity
to better understand the situation in the British Colonies in 1753 while you
were serving as Postmaster General. Our own little town of Occoquan, Virginia
(circa 1734) lies just 16 miles southwest of Alexandria on the stage road to
Williamsburg. If we can ever be of assistance to you during your travels, it
will be our pleasure to do so. Again, thank you most warmly for an a interesting
and entertaining evening of dinner and libations, repartee and
conversation.Godspeed you safely on your journey.
With kind regards, most sincerely,
Diane and Fred Clark Boli, Owners
Hawthorne House Fine Paper
Your outstanding portrayal of Dr. Franklin was the highlight of
the training session on assessing historic leaders. The knowledge you share with
the class was complete, detailed, focused, and delivered in a wonderfully
entertaining and educational method.
Robyn J. Walick
Chief, Management Support Branch
U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency
Click here to edit
Copyright © 2013 Ben Franklin Printer