Recycling message rocks Lafayette Mills students

BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

DAVE BENJAMIN Young Audiences of New Jersey artist Billy B. inspires pupils at the Lafayette Mills School, Manalapan, to consider the importance of recycling during his visit to the school on Oct. 25. MANALAPAN — Recycle those cans, bottles and newspapers to help keep the planet in great shape is the message that pupils at Lafayette Mills School heard from a special guest on Oct. 25.

In a Recycle Mania program performed by Young Audiences of New Jersey artist Billy B., accompanying himself on guitar, pupils participated in songs and dances while they listened to a message about how and why it is important to recycle.

DAVE BENJAMIN Youngsters at the Lafayette Mills School, Manalapan, became part of a show about recycling when Billy B. paid a visit in October. “This little planet of ours is amazing,” said Billy B. “Life is everywhere on this planet and we have to recycle everything we can.”

There are leaves rotting in the woods, mushrooms growing and worms turning that back into topsoil, he said, adding, “That’s part of recycling, too.”

During his performance Billy B. sang catchy rock songs about chloroplasts, root systems, photosynthesis and recycling the air. The pupils got into the act as they enjoyed his Elvis-style recycling songs.

Billy B. invited all of the sixth-graders to dance and they quickly learned the steps to a west central African song about planting trees and the life cycle of trees.

Changing focus, Billy B. turned to the idea that recycling saves space, energy and nature.

“I don’t care where you put it [garbage], just take it,” said the performer. “All across New Jersey landfills are filling up, so you ship it to Pennsylvania or Virginia, and they say, ‘We’ll take your trash, just give us money.’ ”

He told the youngsters that if they can shrink their trash it can make a big difference. He said taking out the recyclable materials leaves less garbage to be hauled away and the recyclables can be turned into different products.

“There are real long-range reasons for recycling,” said Billy B. “Plastic can be recycled into insulation for winter jackets. It can be used in CDs, DVDs, toys, televisions and computers.”

The pupils learned about fossil fuels and renewable natural resources, and then the fifth-graders and sixth-graders danced to a rap song about recycling trash.

“We can change our behavior,” said Billy B. “It makes a difference.”

Principal Mel Reid said, “We already recycle at lunch. We recycle cans and plastic bottles, and we’re trying to do a better job of recycling paper in the classrooms, also.”

Young Audiences of New Jersey, Princeton, provides arts programs for young people.

Billy B. is a veteran of stage and film. He has performed at the White House, and has appeared on the Discovery Channel and on National Public Radio.

“Billy B. is a wonderful artist who inspires students to get excited about science and the arts,” said Kristin Golden Wenger, executive director of Young Audiences. “This is a rare combination.”

Wenger said each year the teaching artists advance the education of more than 500,000 New Jersey school children from prekindergarten through 12th grade.