Culture club

These kids are learning about different cultures, starting with easy discussions, like what they eat for breakfast or dinner. And since it is an English immersion program, they also learn language. - - Donna Poisl

Keene program helps immigrants adjust to region

By Sarah Palermo, Sentinel Staff

What did you have for breakfast? It seems like a simple question. But in Morris Kimura’s classroom, it reveals what makes his students unique, and what brings them together.

Typical answers Kimura, a teacher at Keene’s Franklin School, receives: oatmeal, orange juice and Pop Tarts. But there’s also rice.

“Some of the kids go, ‘Oh, you eat rice for breakfast! Why do you do that?’ ” Kimura said, laughing. “But it is a chance to talk about everyone’s culture, and they love that. The kids love finding the commonalities” among their differing cultures.
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