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March 21, 2006

New Albany native find success in books and performances

By CHRIS MORRIS Tue Mar 21, 2006, 03:15 PM EST

Remember how much you enjoyed recess back in elementary school? Or how about going to the local store to buy a new steel lunch box with a picture of Davy Crockett or Spiderman on it?

Neil Brewer remembers. He also recalls meeting new friends, having that special teacher, or being part of the school patrol.

Brewer, a New Albany native and education professor at Indiana University Southeast, wrote a book two years ago called “The 8 O’Clock Bell” which is full of poetry on subjects related to school. He has also put the poetry to music and performs throughout the area to local school children and adults alike. He said his performance takes people back to when they were in school and revives memories long forgotten.

“Kids to senior citizens all enjoy it,” Brewer said. “Everyone has been to school and everyone has memories. People are just drawn to it by common experiences.”

Brewer said those experiences are what makes his program enjoyable for all ages. Of course, using music to bring his poetry to life also helps.

“Wonderful, fantastic — these aren’t always the adjectives teachers use for assemblies, but today I heard them all. One even commented that in her 20 years of teaching she had never seen such a large group of kids totally captured by the presenter for the entire presentation,” Holy Family teacher Judy Cooper said on Brewer’s Web site after a recent performance.

Brewer said he loves performing his poetry. While he has been performing at area schools in recent months, his next performance will be at the Hayswood Theatre in Corydon March 24 and 25 at 8 p.m., and March 26 at 2 p.m. For tickets call 812-738-8075.

He performed at New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.’s opening day last August and will play for the Kentucky Language Arts Association this summer.

“I’ve been doing live performances at more and more places,” Brewer said.

Brewer spent 20 years teaching fifth and sixth graders. Combined with his memories as a student, the two are played out in “The 8 O’Clock Bell” which is 112 pages in length.

His work has been praised by local educators.

“Neil Brewer is an artist who stirs the imagination and memory. His message is universal and wakes the ever-present simplicity and magic of childhood,” said Dave Rarick, director of communications for the NA-FC School Corp.

“Neil’s poetry entertains, while teaching with a style and voice that model and exemplify those characteristics teachers will want to pass on to their students,” said Dr. Kevin Bailey, director of the National Writing Project at IUS.

Brewer, who has been playing musical instruments for 30 years, said his live performance also goes hand in hand with the Indiana curriculum.

“His sense of humor appeals to students and teachers alike — specifically within “The 8 O’clock Bell” as he has a way of looking at the ordinary school day and seeing something unique,” said Max Monts of Clear Creek Elementary School in Bloomington.

Brewer said he enjoys performing his poetry live, but what he enjoys the most are the expressions on the students’ faces and the positive comments from adults.

“It’s funny because people have shared many of the same experiences in school,” he said. “This book is what happened to me, but many people can relate to the subjects.”

Brewer does get paid for his performance but he donates most of that money to the Bridge School in California which is a school for special needs children.