I have seen the future!

….and for kids in education, it’s awesome!

Some say the U.S.A is at the top of it’s game.  We invented Apple, the airplane, the T.V, and the telephone. But the numbers don’t lie. The U.S ranks 15^th in reading performance, 21^st in science, and 25^th in math, compared to the rest of the world. Education Nation wants to change that.  Education Nation, a two-day summit on Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, wants to get people talking about ways we can improve America’s schools.  But it’s not as simple as it sounds. 

I spoke to some people who were visiting the Learning Plaza, a series of exhibits on education, and most people agreed that there was room for improvement in the education system.

“I think if we involve parents and the community, then education will strive to be better,”  said Peggy, a teacher from New Orleans, Louisiana.

“I think [in the future our nation] would have much higher math and science scores. I think it’s sad not too many people like science, especially girls. I think the nation needs to get on that, because math and science is pretty important,” said Ciara, a college student from Pearl River, New York.

Hunter, a kid visiting from Boston, thought that technology will play an important role in the future. “I think education in the future will focus more on multimedia and the Internet, and seeing how computers can be used as more of a tool and less of a distraction.”

Randall, a visitor from New York, New York, agreed. “I think education is in transition. I think technology has allowed us to look at new ways of teaching and I think we’re still learning right now as to the best ways to use technology to break down borders, to give fair and exciting teaching to all different types of kids. I think it’s really an exciting time.”

Personally, I thought that the coolest part of the gallery was called “The Learner,” where there were touch-screen computers with fun tests that told you how you learn best.

And of course, if the kids, parents, teachers, and minds behind Education Nation get their way, then America will truly be at the top of it’s game. Visit educationnation.com to learn more.

—Kid Reporter Grace McManus

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Grace McManus checks out the Learning Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York City, September 26, 2010. (Photo by Amanda Hebert)

Sculptural Magic

Artist Tom Otterness creates a world of fantasy in his Brooklyn studio.

When I was walking to Tom Otterness’s studio in Brooklyn, New York, there were no signs, no shops, and no people on the streets of his neighborhood of mostly warehouse buildings. The doors are all unmarked and there are only a few windows.

But when Mr. Otterness opened the plain door to his workshop, I felt like Alice, stepping into Wonderland. My jaw dropped as he gave me a tour. I could barely contain my excitement!

There were models of sculptures he’d finished—both large and small—and models of sculptures still in the works. There were little clay people and whimsical giants. There was even a tiny model of the huge metal Millipede he made for the Ulrich Museum in Wichita, Kansas, his hometown.

The most memorable sculptures I saw Mr. Otterness working on were a collection of broken hearts he is making for San Francisco General Hospital. Each piece is heart-shaped, but they also have arms and legs and faces like people—people who’ve been banged up and need help.

One heart was on crutches, one was in a wheelchair with a bandaged toe, and two hearts sat side-by-side, one comforting the other. There was also a heart with its own stethoscope plugged into its ears, listening. When I saw it, it made me realize that though our hearts can break, they can also heal.

When I asked Mr. Otterness about what inspires his work, he told me an anecdote about why he made a big bear sculpture. When his daughter was young, he said, she had a teddy bear. Whenever Mr. Otterness did something she didn't like, she threw the teddy bear down and punished it. So he made a bear sculpture “because I think that was the way she thought of me," he explained, “as a big bear.

I was interviewing Mr. Otterness because of his connection to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. I was covering the awards ceremony later in the week. Mr. Otterness was not only presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, he was a recipient of the award last year. Even more cool, I learned that as a high school student, Mr. Otterness was a Scholastic Art and Writing winner! He says the award helped give him his start as a professional artist.

By the end of my visit and interview, I felt like I had been on a private field trip in Tom Otterness’s personal playground. His sculptures are so kid-friendly you can touch them and sometimes even climb on them and get inside. He never puts a red velvet rope or "Do Not Touch" sign in front of his work. And now, whenever I’m walking down the street and see a plain door, I wonder what kind of magic might be behind it.

—Grace McManus

Try It! You'll Like It!

Every change your mind about a food you thought you hated? Send you comments below!

The thought of meeting up with my biggest enemy—cauliflower—at the house of chef and author Rozanne Gold didn't make my taste buds too happy. But I went anyway. After all, I was on assignment.

I meet Rozanne and her 14-year-old daughter, Shayna DePersia in their kitchen in Brooklyn, New York. They are the co-authors of the book Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs.

I learned a lot from these two fresh food advocates. For example, Rozanne and Shayna taught me a trick for how to add flavor to Carrot-Ginger-Tomato Soup, which is on page 40 of Eat Fresh Food.

If the soup—or any other dish—isn't gingery enough for you, take a fresh ginger root, peel, and grate it. Put the grated pieces into a paper towel and start squeezing over a bowl. You will be amazed at how much ginger juice comes out! Voila! Your soup is done! Bon-appétit!

After I interviewed Rozanne, she told me that we could dig into the food she had already prepared as examples from her cookbook. Even though I was on the job, I felt like I had suddenly been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with my friends and family.

We sat down to wonderful Watermelon Lemonade, scrumptious Cinnamon-Sugar Wontons, and great Grape-and-Pignoli Breakfast Cake. And then there was the cauliflower.

Little did I know that I would be face to face with the dreaded cauliflower and no way out.  There in front of me was a pasta dish called Mac-and-Cheese With Cauliflower and Creamy Red Pepper Sauce. And guess what? It looked magnificent!

When I tasted it, I went wild! I had met the enemy, and it was…good. In fact, it was the most delicious vegetable dish ever!

That day I learned that before you turn your nose up at something, you should try it. You may just surprise yourself. Rozanne inspired me to eat better and from now on I will only have a bag of potato chips in an emergency.

Have you tried any new foods lately? Send in your fun food story below!

—Grace McManus

Sadness and Hope in Haiti

My interview with CBS News Anchor Harry Smith

When I went to the CBS News studios in New York last week to interview Harry Smith, I was really nervous. I had never done an interview on camera before.

“Okay,” I thought, “just smile and ask your questions.”

It turned out I did much more than that. I had an emotional conversation with an adult who treated me like a real reporter instead of a little kid. Together we discussed life and death, but more importantly hope, in Haiti.

Before the interview started, Mr. Smith spent about 10 minutes just talking with me. It felt like we were old friends, and from then on, I knew the interview would go well.

When some of my questions brought tears to his eyes, I didn’t feel uncomfortable about it because I was lost in his answers. He is such a good storyteller, and he painted such a powerful picture with words that came from deep in his heart, that I felt like I was in Haiti with him.

Even though there is a lot of devastation in Haiti, Mr. Smith said he saw hope amidst the sadness. People who had lost everything were making plans about how to go on with their lives. It was an uplifting lesson.

—Grace McManus

Fantastic Mr. Fox Red Carpet

Preparing for first Red Carpet experience pays off!

I was excited and nervous covering the red carpet for the premiere of the movie Fantastic Mr. Fox, because it was my first assignment as a Scholastic Kid Reporter. I didn’t know what to expect.

When I got to Bergdorf Goodman—a famous department store in New York City where the event was taking place—I saw paper markers on the sidewalk. Each had the name of a TV station, a website, a newspaper or a magazine that was also covering the red carpet.

The Scholastic Kids Press Corps was right next to The New York Times! I was worried that I had to compete with so many famous reporters. But I was also lucky. The stars’ assistants brought all the main actors over to me because I was the only kid there. (Once in a while, you get a break for being short.)

The actors patiently listened to my questions and gave me great answers. Meryl Streep, one of the most famous actors there, was wearing a beautiful shimmering gold dress, and came right up to me. I asked her how voicing a character is different from playing the role of a character.

“That is the most sophisticated question anyone has asked me in this entire press line,” she said.

I felt wonderful, because I had spent a lot of time preparing my questions. It made me feel like I was just as good as all the adult reporters there. (Here’s where hard work and preparation paid off!)

Red carpets always look glamorous on TV, but in reality, I had to stand in the cold for two and a half hours for just a few minutes of action. Also, you don't get to see the movie! However, fellow Kid Reporter Miranda Rector in California saw a screening and wrote a review.

Although, life was not so glamorous on my side of the red carpet (which is in front of a rope line and definitely NOT on the literal carpet), I didn’t care. For me it was exciting and fun!

—Grace McManus

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Grace McManus with actor Meryl Streep, who plays Mrs. Fox in the Fantastic Mr. Fox, opening November 25, 2009. (Photo Courtesy Grace McManus)