Fifth-Graders Make Friends at Iraqi Schools

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When asked to list what they are grateful for, Kristin Westberg’s fifth-grade writing students named such everyday items as forks and knives, lockers, book bags, and carpeting in the school. They had just had a glimpse inside a school where such things are scarce.

The school is in Iraq, and on April 15 CCES students were able to take a rare look at the lives of Iraqi students their own age during a presentation by 1st Lieutenant Rick Blackwell. Blackwell had been working with Westberg and her classes since January on a special letter-writing project.

The Concept of American Children
A member of the United States Army, Blackwell was assigned to a civilian affairs unit in Iraq. He and his special operations team were charged with helping Iraqi civilians recover from the effects of the war. Their tasks varied from helping restore electricity and water to homes, to aiding farmers in procuring farming equipment, and working to distribute school supplies to local students.

1st Lieutenant Rick Blackwell, grade 5 writing teacher
Kristin Westberg, and CCES School Board member Edgar Norris.

This is where our fifth-graders come in. Blackwell had already secured local help in obtaining donations of school supplies through CCES School Board member Edgar Norris, who worked with the Care Committee at Scott and Stringfellow to collect pens, notebooks and other school supplies. But Blackwell and his team knew that this project could be more than just a handout—he felt it had the potential to reshape the conceptions that Iraqi children have about Americans.

“A typical day in my life is to wake up, go to school, come home, say hi to my dog and three cats, do my homework, play and go to bed. And that’s only the basics. How’s your day in Iraq? What do you do for fun?” Blackwell knew that these words by fifth-grader Alex Goldsmith had the potential to make a difference.

“To Iraqi children who have never seen a TV, all Americans are men who get out of big armored trucks and walk around with guns. They don’t even grasp the concept of American children existing. A letter from an American kid accompanied by a pen or a notebook would go a long way in building a peaceful bridge between our two nations for the future. I think we have a chance to make a difference," says Blackwell.

Norris put Blackwell in touch with Westberg. She quickly gauged the impact of a letter-writing project, both on her students and the children in Iraq.

What is it Like to Be a Kid in Iraq?



Students wrote about the things that would interest any fifth-grader. “Do you like sports?” asked Parker Baker. “If you do, get a copy of Sports Illustrated. I would send you a copy but it is in English, not your language.”

David Schriver parroted words most likely heard regularly from parents and teachers. “School is very important because if you don’t get through college you can never get a good job.”

Others talked about favorite things, such as Wilson Strausbaugh, who wrote, “I want to be a pro baseball player when I grow up. I have two dogs, their names are Bailey and Moss. I play lots of sports and my favorite animal is a shark. My favorite color is blue.”

Many of the 91 letters written by CCES students focused on their similarities to the Iraqi students. “To be 11 in the United States has its ups and downs, but it’s usually pretty fun,” wrote Elizabeth-Ann Sherbert. “What is it like to be a kid in Iraq? Even though my country and your country can be different, underneath everything we’re all the same.”

Journey to Iraq



The letters were then sent on their journey to Iraq, where members of Blackwell’s unit had them translated into Arabic. Each child received the original English version along with the translation; both were distributed with the school supply packets. "How much more meaningful to distribute those supplies along with a personal message from an American child," said Blackwell.

CCES students were thrilled when Lt. Blackwell showed them a video of the letters being distributed to the Iraqi children. As the footage rolled, he encouraged students to observe the conditions of the school, and think about how different it was from CCES.

A Positive Impact on the War



CCES students watched with awe as they saw a school where the walls were unpainted except for graffiti, where students were crowded four to a desk in some classrooms, while other classrooms had no desks at all and students sat on the floor against the wall. Police surrounded the school to ensure the safety of the students as they learned.

According to Blackwell, the school supply project had a direct and positive impact on the war. A week after the supplies and letters were distributed, Iraqi students provided information to Blackwell’s team on where to find insurgents in their neighborhoods. “These are kids that would have been afraid of us if they hadn’t seen us in their schools helping them by giving them shoes, backpacks and supplies. I know that there was a direct result from making friendships with these children to winning a war.”

Westberg received a formal thank-you from Blackwell, “On behalf of my team, thank you to all involved in sending letters to Iraqi children in Al Anbar Province. I assure you that your act of kindness has made a lasting difference in the positive relationship between the United States and Iraq. You have also put smiles on the faces of children who many days have nothing to smile about.”

The visit from Lt. Rick Blackwell left a lasting impression on our fifth-grade students.

Hopefully, our students made a lasting impression on these Iraqi children, who, despite their circumstances, share with our children a love of learning and the joy of play.