Blog Post #4:
Asphalt Green
PS 126, Jacob August Riis School
80 Catherine Street
Thursday, January 26th, 2017
On Thursday January 26th, 2017, Jack and I went to the Jacob August Riis school. We went there to meet Thomas Bickerton (also known as TG) from Asphalt Green and help supervise the kids’ recess. Our first encounter was with two somewhat uninterested security guards who finally pointed us in the right direction. We were a little early, so we asked TG a couple questions about how he got into helping kids. He said he studied sports in college, and lived in Honduras for two years, where soccer is very popular. He had two passions: one was helping people, and the other was sports. By joining Asphalt Green he was able to accomplish both. When the kids starting coming into the cafeteria for lunch, TG talked with the kids and high fived them as they were walking in. The kids were in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. On this day, it was raining, so recess was held indoors, where the kids would play in another meeting area next to the cafeteria. When the kids were finished lunch, they went with TG and played fun activities such as duck duck goose, tag, and red light green light. While watching the kids, I saw all the smiles on the kids’ faces. They were so happy to run around, and to be free during school. As I watched, kids came over to me and high fived me even though they had no idea who I was. Sports and play are so exciting for kids because they are less structured than the classroom. That is why they love it, and it shouldn’t be taken away from them.
There was another guest there, who used to work for Asphalt Green, and had come back for a surprise visit to see the kids he had worked with. It showed how sports can create community and relationships that last. The kids were happy to see him because they remembered how much fun they had together.
When we were at the school, we were a little shy and we did not interact with the kids as much as we would have liked. On our next fieldwork, I want to make sure that I am engaged with the kids.
