Boston’s Carter School Featured

        The well-respected Carter School, located on the border of Lower Roxbury and the South End near Northeastern University, has been included in the U.S. tour of an international photo exhibit. The Carter school is part of the Boston Public Schools and is one of the few public schools in New England that provides highly specialized and customized educational and therapeutic programs to students with significant cognitive, physical and complex medical challenges.

          The Journeys to School photo exhibit chronicles the daily journeys of children around the world as they journey to school.  The children cross deserts, frozen tundra, rivers, mountainous terrain and poverty-stricken ghettos -- on foot, on horseback or donkeys, on sleds, aboard boats, in wheelchairs -- in pursuit of an education.  The children live in all types of situations, including refugee camps, on the streets and in more “normal” homes.  As different as their individual journeys are, the students show remarkable resilience in overcoming a variety of obstacles in getting to school.  Despite the hardship visible in many of the photos, the exhibit is uplifting and heart-warming.  A slideshow of images from the exhibit can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxBfqd639BE

          “While the majority of the images in Journeys to School depict a world that’s unfamiliar to most of us, the determination, resilience and joy of the children is inspiring to everyone,” said Boston’s First Lady, Mrs. Angela Menino, who spoke at the exhibit’s opening reception.

         The Carter School is featured in the exhibit because its 25 students have mobility and other challenges.  They can’t get to school without considerable assistance, from the time they wake up and all throughout the day.   Most are reliant on wheelchairs, and need help with dressing, feeding and personal care.  They ride to school in specially equipped paratransit vehicles provided by Boston Public Schools.  The Carter School’s learning environment enables students to pursue individualized learning objectives, and be exposed to a wide range of stimuli, therapies and life expanding experiences.

            Journeys to School was developed and made possible by a partnership between Veolia Transdev (a global leader in public transportation), UNESCO (the United Nations agency devoted to education), and Sipa Press (a French photo journalism agency).  The exhibit was brought to Boston in collaboration with the Office of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Public Schools and Veolia Transportation North America, which has been contracted to run the city’s school bus system starting in July 2013 and is a partner in MBCR, which operates the Boston Commuter Rail system under contract to the MBTA.

          “Journeys to School exemplifies our commitment to providing mobility services that serve the public interest and connect communities,” said Veolia Transportation CEO Mark Joseph.  “We provide public transport solutions that help millions of people get to school, work, medical appointments and more.”

           BPS Superintendent Carol R. Johnson notes that, “The photos remind us of our responsibility to ensure that all children, everywhere, including the hardest to reach, get to school.”  UNESCO reports that although access to education has improved in recent years, the world’s poor and marginalized citizens can still be excluded from education through poverty, religious tensions, political conflicts, natural disasters, homelessness, disability, gender inequality -- and sometimes a combination of these elements. 

            The Carter School recently launched a $10 million fundraising campaign to fund a school expansion, including an accessible swimming pool. Aquatic therapy relieves pain and encourages muscle relaxation, which is key to building coordination and motor skills.  At the reception, several companies made a combined donation of $25,000 to the effort, including Veolia Transportation, Alternate Concepts, Inc., Bombardier Transportation, Northwind Strategies and Epoch 5 Public Relations. Principal Marianne Kopaczynski expressed her gratitude and invited those with an interest and willingness to help, through grant writing, fundraising or monetary donation, to contact her directly if they are able to help the school achieve its fundraising and expansion goals.

            The exhibit made its world premiere at the United Nations Visitors’ Center in New York in March 2013 and Boston is its first stop on a tour of American cities. The exhibit officially opened in Boston with a June 17th reception at City Hall, and is open until mid-September free of charge to the general public.  Visitors should enter through City Hall Plaza.  The exhibit also opened in Paris in May.