U of S : Communications : OCN : Apr 9, 1998

It's a scrumptious idea and the kids at the Friendship Inn on 20th Street love it.

They get to dip their hands into bowls of chocolate pudding and spread it over sheets of white paper.

For Professor Peter Purdue, who has extensive experience in teaching disadvantaged children, the pudding idea is a useful opener.

"We usually start out with chocolate fingerpainting because it focuses the kids and uses up a lot of energy. Everybody thinks it's a giggle and clean up consists partly in licking your hands."

Purdue, who is an associate professor in Art and Art History and an associate member in Curriculum Studies, has taught deaf children, emotionally disturbed students, and young offenders in his 36-year teaching career that began in his native New Zealand.

One reason he started volunteering at the Friendship Inn, he says, is because he "missed working with kids."

He says it's gratifying to see the small differences he and the student volunteers make.

"The children smile and give us hugs. That means that despite whatever hardships they may have in their life, they're having fun."

From 12 to 40 children aged 5 to12 attend Purdue's art classes every second Saturday at the Friendship Inn, a United Way agency that provides food and support to low-income earners.

"My wife calls me 'Peter of the Soup Kitchen'," says Purdue, who's volunteered at the Inn for eight years and has sat on its board for the past two years.

"She makes it sound like what I'm doing is a bit saint-like, but I benefit from it. For example, my job is to teach University students how to teach art so volunteering gives me the practical knowledge to do that."

The U of S students who assist him on his visitations to the Friendship Inn, provide the individual attention the children need, Purdue says.

"The children will often tell long narratives that accompany their pictures if someone's there to listen."

Many of the children who participate in Purdue's afternoons of fingerpainting, painting, drawing, and modeling come from families who are too poor to pay for art classes or art supplies.

"Many of the parents can't afford food, much less classes or paper and crayons," he says. "We give their children an opportunity to enjoy art."

Until a year ago or so, Purdue says he wanted to keep the volunteer efforts at the Friendship Inn quiet.

"It didn't seem like we needed any congratulations for what we did. However, we recently decided that the College of Education deserves some good publicity. Why shouldn't students who are motivated by their love for children be acknowledged?"

- Susanne Albrecht

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