Newsday, Long Island    Monday, November 1, 2004

BY HEATHER FLETCHER
STAFF WRITER

Pushing a fist into his untucked white T-shirt, Edwin Panjoj, 10, rocked forward as civil rights activist and folk singer Si Kahn listened to his question.

"Did you ever try to stop world hunger?" Edwin asked.

That was kind of a big task, Kahn told Edwin. But children can do anything they set their minds to, Kahn assured the 40 fifth-graders who were assembled Wednesday morning on the floor in Room 36 at Manorhaven Elementary School in Port Washington.

Kahn, the leader of Grassroots Leadership, a group that provides organizational advice to southern activists, visited the school courtesy of a grant from the Port Washington Education Foundation.

"The way to solve big problems is to start small," Kahn said. He alluded to his past as a member of the 1960s civil rights movement and how fighting for justice as a folk singer, writer and speaker became his way of life for the past 40 years.

"If you want to do something, you should volunteer," Kahn said, advising the 10-year-old pupils to get parental permission. "That's what makes the difference."

Tapping his brown cowboy boots, the 60-year-old activist from Charlotte, N.C., sang a capella or with an acoustic guitar. In between, he spoke about civil rights and answered questions from students, like Edwin, who had been preparing in class for his visit.

Fifth-grade teacher Joan Brinkhuis helped write the grant that resulted in Kahn's visit. Teachers already had familiarized students with the history behind Kahn's messages, including the fact that, in 1903, children their age were working in mills and mines.

"He has such a passion for justice in this world," Brinkhuis said. "And what we want to do is to teach this concept to students to let them realize that they, too, can have this same passion for justice; and it starts here, with the school."

Principal Linda Welles said she was thrilled to have Kahn tell students about individual responsibility.

"You can't just stand by and let bad things happen," Welles said. "I think that's his message."

Kahn said what was wonderful about songs was their subjectivity.

"People hear what they're ready to hear," he said. "You can raise very difficult subjects in a song, and people who are ready to hear will hear."

By the end of the day, 170 fourth- and fifth-graders heard his message. But some were so familiar with his work before he came that the group before Edwin's requested "Rabbit Jim" three times.

In Edwin's group, David Katz was the next student to request it. David had heard the song in music class and liked it because Jim was like him - a fast runner.

"How did you make historical facts into song lyrics?" asked student Andy Zimmelman.

Kahn said he bases much of his songs on history, but other times he writes them just for fun.

Fifth-grader Mirna Ismail particularly liked "Eight O'Clock Midnight Snack" and "What's That Noise."

"They're funny and they're kinda for kids," she said, smiling. Student Jennifer Kim agreed, noting that "What's That Noise" was about monsters under the bed and she loved Halloween monsters. So she liked the song, too.

Jazmine Smith said she accomplished her goal as a pupil of simply absorbing "as much information as possible."

Students Jennifer Zdrojeski and Bari Strauss learned how important it was to help others.

And for Jake Ades, helping others meant defending civil rights for fellow Jews. "I like to fight for the rights that I want," he said.

Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.

You also can contact Si Kahn by e-mail.