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Over the summer the students in our Writing Boot Camp worked on their writing skills and read a novel based on a true story set in Southwest Virginia. The book is the life story of Revered Bob Childress, a preacher who went in to teach Christianity in what was then an unbelievable wide and dangerous area, ironically, not a far drive from our offices here in Roanoke, VA. The story was set in the 1920s-40s. As one of our last writing assignments, the students were to take Childress, who passed away in the 1950s, and place him in 21st century America. We wrote this as there was rioting and looting in Ferguson, Missouri in the wake of the shooing of an unarmed black youth there. If he were alive today, what would Childress do? What would he say? How would he approach people and problems? This is what one of our campers came up with. Fine writing, especially when you consider he is a middle schooler in Taiwan, a non-English speaking country. ************************************************************** My name is Bob, Bob Childress. You may have noticed me in the book, The Man Who Moved a Mountain, but I am now here, in the 21st century. A few days ago, there was a riot. Ferguson, Missouri was filled with police. When I heard of it, I drove there as quickly as I could in my new Ford Focus (my Model -T is too old). I was too late to stop the riot. But I was able to tell the police and the protestors about God before they did something more serious and told the protestors to go home because it was foolish to come out and ruin a perfectly good night. I convinced the police to free the prisoners. Everybody went home happily that day. Over the next few days, I took people to the hospital and invited them over for dinner. I also drove to the White House to talk to the President about violence and poverty in our cities. I specifically told the news reporter not to interview me. That is probably why I wasn’t on the news. ************************************************************* Our new classes start every year in September. From vocabulary to writing to speaking better English, we can help you too! Sign up today! |