American yoyo expert Jerry Earl teaches students at Wallarano Primary School in Noble Park the ups and downs of life — through the entertaining medium of the yoyo.
By Shaun Inguanzo
LIFE IS full of ups and downs – just like a yoyo.
The students at Wallarano Primary School in Noble Park have caught on to the old-time craze after American yoyo expert Jerry Earl brought his world-famous Ned Show to the school last week.
Wallarano assistant principal Gail Doney said the show had started yoyo-mania among the school’s 530 students and that staff had allowed a yoyo club to be formed.
“The show was absolutely fantastic. Jerry Earl had every child eating out of his hand,” she said.
“He also trained four school leaders how to give assistance to other kids and how to change strings and to make the yoyo spin.”
Ms Doney said the underlying message of the yoyo phenomenon was to encourage students to overcome challenges and never give up.
The other benefit for students, Ms Doney said, was the return to a golden era of learning where children helped teach other children activities in the schoolyard.
But the first meeting of the Wallarano Yoyo Club last Friday had to set some ground rules.
“We did a lot on safety with the yoyo,” Ms Doney said.
“Tricks such as Walking the Dog and Around the World can hurt others if students aren’t aware that other people might be around.”
