PANEL REVIEWS HISTORICAL CONCLUSIONS MADE BY MINNESAUKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' ANALYSIS OF TOMBSTONES
Setauket, NY February 14, 2005 - Last week, Minnesauke Elementary School students presented to a panel of experts and public officials, their findings and analysis of tombstones from data they had gathered during an October field trip to the Setauket Presbyterian Cemetery. As part of their Math/Social Studies curriculum, the students collected dates of birth and death, tributes and other identifying information directly from tombstones-some of which are 350 years old-to help understand life in Three Village. The students also viewed a DVD produced by Cablevision about how the students gathered the data.
The students from Paul Wilgenkamp's sixth grade class used their math skills to compile the data, their social studies skills to draw conclusions and their public speaking skills to present their findings to Libby O'Connell, PhD., Historian-in-Residence, The History Channel; Frank Turano, PhD., President, Three Village Historical Society; New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright; Suffolk County Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher; Dodie Tschirch, Cablevision's Vice President of Public Affairs and others.
Wilgenkamp's classroom was transformed into a science fair, a set-up whereby each group of students could present their specific findings and discuss their conclusions with the panelists. Dubbed "Teaching from the Grave," the experience was designed to encourage students to become interested in local history through hands-on scientific research. In addition, Minnesauke fourth graders will use the information collected by the older students when they study Long Island history. The students transferred their raw data into charts, graphs and questions-all designed to reach thoughtful conclusions.
"This out-of-the-classroom exercise exemplifies how a creative, enthusiastic instructor can teach students that history is all about detective work. These students did is exactly what historians do: collect raw data and draw conclusions. We are pleased to partner with Cablevision to raise awareness about the Society's efforts to document the important information housed in local cemeteries," said Long Island resident Dr. Libby O'Connell, The History Channel's Historian-in-Residence.
Working closely with Dr. Frank Turano, President of the Three Village Historical Society and Stony Brook University professor, students analyzed the data and drew many interesting conclusions. For example, the students' analysis yielded a difference in life expectancy particularly in females who, prior to 1940 lived to an average age of 64; after 1940 females lived to an average age of 75. The students attributed this significant change in life expectancy to the introduction of antibiotics.
The data collected by the junior historians is a key educational component of a long-term project by the Three Village Historical Society to create a searchable database for historical and genealogical research. Three Village Historical Society intends to document all of the known and potentially unknown graves in the cemetery as part of the project to identify tombstones in the sixteen known local, private burial sites.
Cablevision and The History Channel have supported the project and the efforts of Three Village Historical Society from the start.
"Cablevision is partnering with The History Channel and its Save Our History initiative to promote the documentation and preservation of these local historical cemeteries. With our unique resources, we can help the Three Village Historical Society build awareness of their efforts and rally community support," said Dodie Tschirch, Cablevision's Vice President of Public Affairs for Long Island.
A&E Television Networks (AETN), a joint venture of the Hearst Corporation, ABC, Inc., and NBC, is an award-winning, international media company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television programming, magazine publishing, web sites, music CDs to home videos/DVDs, as well as supporting nationwide educational initiatives. AETN is comprised of A&E NETWORK®, THE HISTORY CHANNEL®, THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL®, HISTORY INTERNATIONAL®, and AETN Enterprises.
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation's leading entertainment and telecommunications companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO: Interactive Optimum digital television offering, Optimum Online high-speed Internet service, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable service, and its Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE and other national and regional networks. Rainbow also is a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net. In 2003, Cablevision's Rainbow DBS launched its VOOM satellite service, the first service to offer a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) television programming. In addition to its telecommunications and programming businesses, Cablevision is the controlling owner of Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas. Additional information about Cablevision Systems Corporation is available on the Web at www.cablevision.com.
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