Schools
Plainview JFK Brings Long Island History to Life
This popular exhibit will be shown through Memorial Day 2011 in Plainview.
Once again this winter, Long Island's history is back in focus at Plainview JFK.
The exhibit, “Long Island, All Dressed Up” contains artifacts dating back to the 1860s. Nick Ventimiglia, a social studies teacher at the high school, re-opened the Long Island Artifacts Museum this winter for a third season.
A grant from the Long Island Index for the development of a program supported the establishment of the museum. Dr. Ann Golob, director of the Long Island Index explained, “We selected the project because it was unique and we thought it would provide students with a new way of interacting with our history and develop a deeper understanding of our region.”
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Generous contributors loaned their prized collections to be displayed at the high school. The artifacts exhibited span hundreds of years of Long Island history and includes medical instruments, fishing gear and farming tools. Some items date to the Great Depression and the Industrial Revolution.
After taking classes from local historian Beverly Tyler, Ventimiglia decided to bring the museum to life. Students in the Plainview-Old Bethpage district will use the museum by learning more about the region they live in. He believes it will complement the school’s new course, “Long Island’s History Through its Economics,” which examines the history of industry and farming on Long Island.
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In fact, the exhibit is a district-wide learning experience, from 4th-graders learning local history to middle school students grasping state history.
Lots of Plainview people helped make this happen: art students created the montage of Long Island scenes surrounding the display. JFK’s marketing club, DECA, is responsible for the business side of the museum, creating a website, giving tours and raising money. Ventimiglia says he “is confident that the museum will benefit all 5,400 students in the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district because the museum brings history to life.”
The items will be on display in the Plainview JFK library until Memorial Day for the entire community to view. School groups from other districts can visit the museum by appointment.
