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http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/07/21/072106NDSrussianart.html
While working last year in Saratov, Russia, as a Fulbright scholar, Dr. Sharon Templeman forged relationships with teachers and students that have remained strong in spite of distance and differences.
Templeman, an assistant professor in the SFA School of Social Work, taught generalist social work practice to an English-speaking class of social work students, and she also delivered continuing education for social workers who are already practicing.
While living and teaching at Saratov State Technical University, she said she was struck by the invisibility of children with disabilities and the inequity of the educational programs that served them.
"I visited and served as a guest speaker in many schools and orphanages," she said. "Rarely did I see children with visible disabilities, so I became interested in how these children are educated. Through my research, I learned that Russian children with special needs are home-schooled, receiving instruction for only a few hours per week by teachers who are already overworked."
Later, Templeman learned that one of her former Russian social work students was working in the art program for the School for Hearing Impaired Children. When she saw some of the artwork, she new that this was an exceptional program that should be shared with the SFA community."
One of Templeman's friends, Irene Dyadyunova, a teacher of English in Russia, traveled thousands of miles to bring the art work to Nacogdoches.
The two teachers spent some time Friday afternoon hanging the paintings in Steen Library for all to enjoy.
The exhibit is titled, "Quiet Paints," and the work was primarily created by deaf children ages 11 to 15.
"I decided they needed to have their artwork displayed here," Templeman said. "It will be a tremendous boost to their self esteem. They will be so proud to see photographs of their pictures and artwork exhibited in the United States. It will be a wonderful experience."
The exhibit will also be educational for American students, who can read about Templeman's work in Russia, and about the student's art project, on an information board posted at the display.
Dyadyunova said she "appreciates the opportunity to share experiences with American friends, on the same social problems we face together."
"We look forward to exhibiting work created by American students with disabilities, in Russian," she said.
Dyadyunova said her visit to Nacogdoches wasn't entirely related to the exhibit. She also came to visit Templeman, with whom she developed a friendship last year.
"We are separated by thousands of miles, but we have exchanged e-mails, calls and parcels," she said. "We're always together. I was happy to accept her invitation to come here. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to bring the artwork with me."
Dyadyunova said she will return to Russia Saturday, and she will tell her students upon her return how friendly and open-hearted Americans are.
Templeman said the exhibit is sponsored by the SFA School of Social Work.
While working last year in Saratov, Russia, as a Fulbright scholar, Dr. Sharon Templeman forged relationships with teachers and students that have remained strong in spite of distance and differences.
Templeman, an assistant professor in the SFA School of Social Work, taught generalist social work practice to an English-speaking class of social work students, and she also delivered continuing education for social workers who are already practicing.
While living and teaching at Saratov State Technical University, she said she was struck by the invisibility of children with disabilities and the inequity of the educational programs that served them.
"I visited and served as a guest speaker in many schools and orphanages," she said. "Rarely did I see children with visible disabilities, so I became interested in how these children are educated. Through my research, I learned that Russian children with special needs are home-schooled, receiving instruction for only a few hours per week by teachers who are already overworked."
Later, Templeman learned that one of her former Russian social work students was working in the art program for the School for Hearing Impaired Children. When she saw some of the artwork, she new that this was an exceptional program that should be shared with the SFA community."
One of Templeman's friends, Irene Dyadyunova, a teacher of English in Russia, traveled thousands of miles to bring the art work to Nacogdoches.
The two teachers spent some time Friday afternoon hanging the paintings in Steen Library for all to enjoy.
The exhibit is titled, "Quiet Paints," and the work was primarily created by deaf children ages 11 to 15.
"I decided they needed to have their artwork displayed here," Templeman said. "It will be a tremendous boost to their self esteem. They will be so proud to see photographs of their pictures and artwork exhibited in the United States. It will be a wonderful experience."
The exhibit will also be educational for American students, who can read about Templeman's work in Russia, and about the student's art project, on an information board posted at the display.
Dyadyunova said she "appreciates the opportunity to share experiences with American friends, on the same social problems we face together."
"We look forward to exhibiting work created by American students with disabilities, in Russian," she said.
Dyadyunova said her visit to Nacogdoches wasn't entirely related to the exhibit. She also came to visit Templeman, with whom she developed a friendship last year.
"We are separated by thousands of miles, but we have exchanged e-mails, calls and parcels," she said. "We're always together. I was happy to accept her invitation to come here. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to bring the artwork with me."
Dyadyunova said she will return to Russia Saturday, and she will tell her students upon her return how friendly and open-hearted Americans are.
Templeman said the exhibit is sponsored by the SFA School of Social Work.