By Mary Pritchard, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – General and Mrs. Artemas Ward, portrayed by Jim and Marcia Smith, have become fixtures in Shrewsbury elementary schools, visiting several times each spring for the past nine years.
While the couple perform throughout Massachusetts schools, both Jim and Marcia have a particular connection to Shrewsbury; they are longtime Shrewsbury residents and both have had careers in the town’s public schools.
Marcia spent 20 of her 25 years as an educator, retiring after 19 years as a curriculum specialist at Spring Street School. Jim, an educator for more than 38 years, coached cross country at Shrewsbury High School for 25 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Colonial history and chose a focus on Artemas Ward while studying.
“I spent so many years teaching and loved it,” he said. “I wanted to do something in the schools about Artemas Ward.”
The couple’s presentations for approximately 1,000 students each year are geared specifically to each of the three grades they visit.
“Our presentations are designed to fit into the curriculum in grades one, three, and five, as students study famous people, Massachusetts history, and early American history,” Marcia said. “We really enjoy seeing and interacting with the children, and experiencing the great reactions from kids and teachers. We see the same kids throughout their elementary years because we present to three grades every year. We have a specific emphasis for each grade so while the kids remember seeing us in previous years, the interactive presentations are different and they learn about something different in each one. Kids use mops as muskets, wear hats, hold flags and march with General Ward. With fifth-graders we reenact part of Shays’ Rebellion – the protest to close the Worcester courts – the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill.”
Jim said he believes children get more out of history lessons by being involved.
“The presentations are animated, fun, bring history alive, and enrich their classroom experience,” he said. “We get to continue what we love – teaching – by bringing local history to the students. I have a passion to tell people who Artemas Ward was. I became an authority on him and I want to show him his due respect. He is underrated – really a forgotten patriot – if you look at any major event in Massachusetts or New England from 1750-1800, Artemas Ward was most likely involved.”
Marcia added that she gets a lot out of seeing the smiling kids and that she misses that part of teaching.
“I love being back in the schools with kids,” she said. “We get to do this together and teach Shrewsbury kids about a local hero who walked this town.”
Jim and Marcia were the recipients of the Shrewsbury History Award at the Annual Meeting of the Shrewsbury Historical Society for their work in the schools, their contributions to the society’s programs, and Marcia’s involvement in the Shrewsbury Public School’s field studies as part of the third-grade unit on the history of Shrewsbury.
“This award is given to a person or persons who show a record of outstanding, active leadership, service and interest in the history of the town of Shrewsbury,” said Kristine L. Gustafson, vice president of the Shrewsbury Historical Society.
“The award is special,” Jim said. “We receive great feedback and appreciation from the kids and teachers and it’s nice to be recognized by the town and Historical Society.”
