>> THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

I LIKE TO KEEP BUSY.

I'M A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

WHEN I COME INTO WORK, I CHECKED THE BOARD, SEE WHERE I AM HEADED AND THAT I AM OFF.

VASCULAR, NEUROLOGY, PEDIATRICS, WHATEVER IT IS, I JUST GO.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

IT IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE ABLE TO GROW HERE.

>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WHEN WE TEACH AND FRANK, THE CRITICAL QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THIS BOOK, WHAT DOES THIS STORY HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO THE ROOT OF.

>> HE WAS A WRITER, PRINTER, PUBLISHER, SCIENTIST, INVENTOR, DIPLOMAT, STATESMAN, AND HE KNEW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

>> SO TODAY WE WOULD CALL HIM A MAJOR INFLUENCER.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IF IT PLEASES YOU, IT IS A BONSAI.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, YOU CAN SPEND A THOUSAND YEARS AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE RULES, BUT THE TREES JOB IS TO MAKE YOU SMILE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

IT DOES THAT, THEN IT IS PERFECT.

IT NEVER HAS TO BE ANYTHING MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

PAMELA: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: I AM DAVID WRIGHT.

THE CRIMINAL COURT IN THE HAGUE HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION UKRAINE, BUT BRINGING ANYONE TO JUSTICE WILL NOT BE EASY.

VICTIMS OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST BRUTAL ATROCITIES KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND.

MANY HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME LOOKING FOR JUSTICE.

SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE FELLOW CITIZENS OF RHODE ISLAND, WHOSE ADVOCACY HELPED PUSH THROUGH A STATE LAW THAT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LESSONS OF THEIR SUFFERING WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

BEFORE THE MEASURE WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL SAT DOWN WITH SURVIVORS OF SOME OF HISTORY'S STARKEST CHAPTERS TO HEAR THEIR STORIES.

>> I GREW UP IN BOLD AREA.

WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WEST.

WHEN THE GERMAN TROOPS MARCHED INTO OAK AREA IN 1941, THAT IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT.

THAT IS WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT IS GOING ON.

MICHELLE: 93-YEAR-OLD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ALICE WAS ATTENDING A GERMAN SCHOOL WHEN BULGARIA ALLIED ITSELF WITH NAZI GERMANY.

IMMEDIATELY, SHE NOTICED HER CLASSMATES BEGAN TREATING HER DIFFERENTLY.

>> I WAS WITH THESE KIDS SINCE KINDERGARTEN TOGETHER.

AND THEN WHEN THAT ALL HAPPENED, WITH THE SWASTIKA AND EVERYTHING, THEY WOULD NOT PLAY WITH ME ANYMORE.

AT RECESS, I WOULD STAND BY MYSELF AND THEY DID NOT INVITE ME ANYMORE TO THEIR BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

IT IS NO BIG DEAL, BUT IT MEANT A LOT TO ME, TO AN 11-YEAR-OLD.

MICHELLE: ALICE WENT TO A FRENCH CATHOLIC SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTED JEWISH STUDENTS.

A FEW YEARS LATER, SHE AND HER PARENTS WERE FORCED TO LIVE NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER IN A GHETTO, WHERE JEWS WERE SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

>> LET ME TELL YOU, I WENT TO BED MANY TIMES HUNGRY.

MANY TIMES AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING.

MY MOTHER CAME DOWN WITH MALARIA, SO WEEKS AND WEEKS SHE WAS SICK AND VERY SICK.

AND I CAME DOWN WITH A WOMAN COUGH, VERY SEVERE -- A WHOOPING COUGH.

NO DOCTORS WERE ALLOWED IN JEWISH HOMES, NO MEDICATION.

A FEW MONTHS WE WERE SICK, YOU KNOW, AND THE PLACE WHERE WE WERE THERE WAS NO PLUMBING AND NO RUNNING WATER.

I HAD TO GO TO THE WELL AND BRING BUCKETS OF WATER SO WE HAD SOMETHING.

MICHELLE: HER LATE HUSBAND RAYMOND WAS ALSO A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.

HE WAS SENT TO AUSCHWITZ, THE NAZIS LARGEST CONCENTRATION CAMP.

>> HE ALWAYS SAID THAT HE COULD NEVER FORGET THE SCREAMS AND THE SMELL OF BURNING FLESH IN AUSCHWITZ.

IT WAS HELL ON EARTH.

MICHELLE: IN 2016, IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE STORIES LIKE ALICE'S AND OTHER VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES DO NOT FADE FROM HISTORY, THEN GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO SIGNED INTO LAW A REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BE TAUGHT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES.

BUT TODAY, SUPPORTERS OF THE LEGISLATION ARE CONCERNED THAT MANY EDUCATORS IN THE STATE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT IN WHAT SCHOOLS.

>> EXACTLY.

MICHELLE: STATE REPRESENTATIVE CATHERINE WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR IN THE 2016 LEGISLATION.

NOW, SHE IS COSPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION IN THE STATE AND MAKE SURE IT IS BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

WHY IS HAVING THAT COMMISSION IMPORTANT FOR THAT EDUCATION?

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING THESE MATERIALS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TEACHING PROPERLY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS COMMISSION THERE TO ENABLE THAT.

MICHELLE: BARBARA WAHLBERG WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING AND GATHERING HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE CURRICULA FOR THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE IS A TEACHER AT CRANSTON HIGH SCHOOL EAST.

SHE WANTS EDUCATORS TO KNOW THERE ARE FREE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND BELIEVES THE COMMISSION WILL HELP TEACHERS SPREAD THE WORD.

>> I THINK THE COMMISSION GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOUD AND INFLUENCE.

AND IT HELPS US TO BE -- YOU KNOW, IT IS ALMOST LEGITIMIZING US AS EDUCATORS TO GO IN AND SAY WE REALLY CAN HELP YOU AND WE CAN PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO YOUR TEACHERS.

MICHELLE: WAHLBERG HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY PIERS FOR HER WORK ON GENOCIDE EDUCATION.

SHE'S MADE IT HER MISSION TO ENSURE STUDENTS KNOW THEIR HISTORY.

>> I THINK THEY HAVE A NEW SENSE OF HOW VALUABLE LIFE IS.

HOW VALUABLE THEIR FAMILY IS, THEIR HOME, THEIR BED.

THE FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.

THEY REALLY DO WRITE JOURNAL ENTRIES THAT MENTION THOSE THINGS, THAT MENTION HOW THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

BUT THEY DO REALIZE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.

>> EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORM TO ERASE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

MICHELLE: SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS LOCATED IN PROVIDENCE.

SHE IS ALSO A SURVIVOR OF THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE.

>> MY MOM, MY AUNT AND I SURVIVED THIS WARD.

AND THIS WAR IS TREMENDOUS IMPACT, BECAUSE WE WERE STARVED.

WE WERE ATTEMPTED TO BE MURDERED.

MICHELLE: SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN THE MURDEROUS REGIME KNOWN AS THE KHMER ROUGE TOOK OVER CAMBODIA.

AT LEAST 1.7 MILLION CAMBODIANS DIED FROM TORTURE, FORCED LABOR AND STARVATION.

FOR YEARS, SHE LIVED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP, DESPERATELY TRYING TO SURVIVE.

>> PICTURE 100 WHEN HE FIVE DEGREES OUTSIDE AND -- 125 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND YOU HAVE TO CARRY LOADS OF ROCKS OR WATER, WHATEVER IT IS.

OR DIG THEN THEN DUMP IT SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE THEY TOLD YOU WHEN YOU DON'T DO IT THE RIGHT PLACE.

AND YOU WILL GET BEATEN.

AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING FED.

YOU ARE LUCKY IF ONE DAY YOU GET THREE GRAINS OF RICE IN A BOWL OF SOUP, WHICH IS JUST BOILED WATER.

JUST TO MAKE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SURVIVE TILL THE NEXT DAY.

MICHELLE: HE SURVIVED LIVING IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP.

-- HOW DO YOU SURVIVE LIVING IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP?

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF STAMINA.

STAMINA IS KEY IN MAINTAINING YOUR COMPOSURE.

FOR ME, IT WAS IN MY PSYCHE THAT I WILL NOT GIVE IN AND I WILL NOT GIVE UP.

IT IS NOT MY TIME YET.

THAT IS FOR ME, NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT FOR ME, IT IS NOT MY TIME.

MICHELLE: WHEN THE VIETNAMESE MILITARY INVADED CAMBODIA IN 1978, SHE SAYS THE CHAOS THAT ENSUED ALLOWED HER TO LATER LEAVE HER CAMP AND AUNT IN NEARBY CAMPS.

>> AND THEN, FROM THERE, WE PLANNED TUESDAY TO SEE IF MY FATHER WAS ALIVE.

BECAUSE THE PROMISE TO MY MOM WAS YOU STAY HERE FOR THREE MONTHS.

IF I DO NOT SHOW UP, THAT MEANS I AM NO LONGER HERE.

SO THAT PROMISE, WE WAITED FOR THREE MONTHS, AND THEN WE DECIDED THAT WE HAD TO ESCAPE OUT OF CAMBODIA.

SO ALL MY FAMILY VANISHED.

I HAVE TWO BROTHERS, TWO SISTERS.

I AM THE SECOND OLDEST OF FIVE CHILDREN AND THEY WERE ALL MURDERED AND KILLED.

WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH THE ACTUAL HAND OR FAMINE AND STARVATION.

MICHELLE: EDUCATORS LIKE LANDON NEWMAN HOPE CHI'S STORY AND THOSE OF OTHERS EMPOWER PEOPLE TO WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> WHEN WE TEACH ANNE FRANK, THE CRITICAL QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THIS BOOK, WHAT DOES THIS STORY HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO THE ROOT OF.

MICHELLE: NEWMAN'S FATHER AND MOTHER SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST.

HE SAYS TEACHING ABOUT THOSE WHO SUFFERED AND PERISHED AT THE HANDS OF THE NAZIS IS CRITICAL.

>> WITH THAT, STUDENTS REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO SOMEBODY ELSE REALLY LONG TIME AGO.

WE ARE PART OF A WORLD COMMUNITY AND WHAT HAPPENS TO ONE OF US HAPPENS TO ALL OF US.

MICHELLE: FOR REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE ARION, MAKING SURE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES IS ALSO ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING HER ROOTS AND THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

I HAVE GREAT GRANDPARENTS THAT ESCAPED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN 1950.

>> THEIR STORIES ARE HORRIFIC AND INCREDIBLE AND I THINK IN THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN IS THAT OUR HISTORY WILL BEATEN -- WILL BE FORGOTTEN.

MICHELLE: INSIDE OF THE NORTH BURIAL GROUND'S IN PROVIDENCE STANDS A MONUMENT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS WERE KILLED BY THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.

TO THIS DAY, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEATHS AS A GENOCIDE.

SHE BELIEVES THAT EDUCATORS MUST RECOGNIZE AND TEACH THAT IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THE BRUTALITY, THERE WERE ALSO HEROES.

>> THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TEACH ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND ALL OF THESE GENOCIDES IN THE RIGHT WAY, BECAUSE IT IS MORE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT THAT PERPETRATED THIS MOST HEINOUS CRIME.

MANY TURKISH PEOPLE ACTUALLY HELPED THEIR ARMENIAN NEIGHBORS HIDE AND ESCAPE FROM THE GENOCIDE.

MICHELLE: ALICE EICHENBAUM REMEMBERS WHEN SHE WAS LIBERATED IN 1944 BY THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

MONTHS LATER, SHE SAYS THE AMERICANS RESCUED HER HUSBAND.

DESPITE WHAT SHE HAS LIVED THROUGH, EICHENBAUM SAYS SHE HAS NEVER LOST HER FAITH AND DOES NOT DWELL ON THE HARDSHIPS.

>> I ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.

I DO NOT FIGHT, I JUST ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.

I ACCEPT THINGS AND MOVE ON.

GOOD OR BAD.

I MOVE ON.

MICHELLE: EICHENBAUM LEAVES IT IS HER MISSION TO GET THE TRUTH OUT.

AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE UNSPEAKABLE.

MADE ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT BY THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO DENY THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SOME PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A HOLOCAUST.

THAT IT WAS JUST A MYTH.

SO I WANT TO TELL THEM IT WAS TRUE, I WENT THROUGH IT.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES, BECAUSE I WAS IN BULGARIA.

AND THE OTHER THING.

IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT TELL EDUCATED PEOPLE, IT COULD VERY EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN.

MICHELLE: SCENES FROM THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH CHI.

SO TOO WILL THE STORY OF HER RESISTANCE.

>> I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES AND THE STRENGTH TO LOOK AT A MURDERER IN THE EYE AND SAY NOT TONIGHT.

TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT, TOMORROW MORNING I WILL WALK OUT ALONE.

AND I DID.

AND I AM HERE TODAY.

PAMELA: WE TURN NOW TO A FOUNDING FATHER IN ONE NEW ENGLAND TOWNS LIBRARY.

OVER THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND BORDERS SINCE FRANKLIN MASSACHUSETTS.

NAMED MORE THAN 240 YEARS AGO IN HONOR OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

THE GREAT AMERICAN STATESMAN DECIDED TO SEND A PRESENT TO THE TOWNSPEOPLE.

WHILE FRANKLIN'S GIFT WAS NOT WITH THE CITIZENS HAD ORIGINALLY HOPED FOR, IT WOULD ULTIMATELY INFLUENCE THE FOUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THE BOOKS.

THEY WANT TO TOUCH THEM, THEY WANT TO KNOW IF I'VE EVER TOUCH THEM.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE A SECRET ARTIFACT.

PAMELA: REFERENCE LIBRARIAN VICKI EARLS SAYS THIS HISTORIC COLLECTION OF BOOKS IS SO PRECIOUS IT IS KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY IN A GLASS DISPLAY CASE.

>> THIS IS IT.

PAMELA: THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS, TREASURES THESE BOOKS FROM THE 1700S BECAUSE THEY ARE THE GENESIS OF THE FIRST AND OLDEST PUBLIC FREE LENDING LIBRARY IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION IN AMERICA.

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA AT THE TIME, THE VOLUMES WERE A GIFT FROM FAMOUS PATRIOT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

>> SO HE WAS A WRITER, A PRINTER, A PUBLISHER, A SCIENTIST, AN INVENTOR, A DIPLOMAT, A STATESMAN, AND HE KNEW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

PAMELA: SO TODAY, WE WOULD CALL HIM A MAJOR INFLUENCER.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, YES.

HE WAS A ROCK STAR.

PAMELA: HE WAS SO POPULAR IN FACT, THERE ARE 31 TOWNS IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY NAME AFTER BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

BUT FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE FIRST.

>> THIS HAPPENED IN 1778, WHEN THE TOWN WAS FOUNDED.

A DOCUMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR NAMING THE TOWN APPEARED AND SOMEBODY ALONG THE WAY HAD CROSSED OUT THE ORIGINAL INTENDED NAME, WHICH WAS EXETER AND WROTE AND FRANKLIN.

PAMELA: BUT THERE WAS LIKELY AND I'LL TEAR YOUR MOTIVE FOR THAT NAME CHANGE.

ACCORDING TO LONGTIME HISTORIAN JAMES JOHNSTON.

>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.

THE LOCAL PREACHER OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH DECIDED THAT IF THEY GAVE THE HONOR TO DR. FRANKLIN THAT HE WOULD GIVE THEM A BELL FOR THEIR NEW MEETING HOUSE.

MAYBE ONE OF PAUL REVERE'S SPECIALS.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

A NICE BRONZE BELL.

PAMELA: THE BELL REQUEST FOR THE CHURCH PEOPLE WAS ENGINEERED BY POWERFUL MINISTER THE REVEREND NATHANIEL EMMONS.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REPLIED BY SENDING THE NOW HISTORIC COLLECTION OF BOOKS INSTEAD.

THEY WERE LOANED OUT FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT VARIOUS OTHER BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN UNTIL THE FRANKLIN LIBRARY WAS BUILT IN 1904.

WHY DID THEN SEND BOOKS INSTEAD OF A BELL?

THE EVER CLEVER FRANKLIN ASKED PLANES IN THE WORDS -- HE ASKED PLANES IN THE WORDS OUTSIDE LIBRARY.

SINCE BEING PREFERABLE TO SOUND.

>> WHAT HE MEANT WAS WHAT THEY RATHER KNOW SOMETHING OF VALUE OR DID THEY JUST WANT TO LISTEN TO THE DING DONG IN THE STEEPLE?

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HE HAD IN MIND.

HE WAS RICH, HE WAS THE RICH GUY.

AND HE'S A GUY WHO COULD AFFORD TO BUY A BELL WITH READY CASH.

BUYING A BELT WAS A VERY BIG, BIG PROJECT.

I MEAN, THEY WERE EXPENSIVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TODAY'S MONEY SPENDING UPWARDS OF $200,000.

PAMELA: IN THE BOOKS WOULD COST IN TODAY'S MONEY?

>> 10 TO 12,000.

PAMELA: OF THE ORIGINAL 116 BOOKS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GAVE TO START THE LIBRARY, 93 REMAIN.

>> WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.

AND I THINK THE LOSS ALONG THE WAY IS THE SAME AS ANY LIBRARY BOOK NOW, WHERE YOU KNOW, THE DOG ATE IT, IT FELL IN THE BATHTUB.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF THE COLLECTION IS THE WORKS OF JOHN LOCKE.

AND THIS IS THE TIME ANY HISTORY OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT.

THAT'S THE TIME IN HISTORY OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT.

JOHN LOCKE'S CLINICAL THEORIES WERE A BIG PART OF THAT.

THE PERSON WHO CAME UP WITH THE THEORIES OF ALL PEOPLE HAVING THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, THAT IS ONE OF HIS CONCEPTS.

AND A LOT OF WHAT HE WROTE ENDED UP IN THE CONSTITUTION.

ALMOST VERBATIM.

PAMELA: THERE IS ANOTHER CHAPTER TO THIS STORY.

TURN THE PAGE FORWARD A FEW YEARS AND A FRANKLIN FARMBOY BORROWS THESE BOOKS.

>> HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

HE WAS MOSTLY SELF EDUCATED AND MOSTLY SELF EDUCATED THROUGH THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COLLECTION.

PAMELA: THE SELF EDUCATED STUDENT WAS NONE OTHER THAN HORACE MANN, CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

>> HE BELIEVED THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND THAT EDUCATION SHOULD BE TAX SUPPORTED.

>> NOT ONLY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR WHITE PEOPLE, BUT HE THOUGHT NATIVE AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE A GOOD EDUCATION.

AND WHEN HE BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE HE OPENED THE DOORS TO WOMEN, TO NATIVE AMERICANS, TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, ALL ON AN EQUAL BASIS.

PAMELA: AND HE BELIEVED ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE A LIBRARY FILLED WITH CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

HISTORIAN JOHNSTON SAID MANN AND FRANKLIN HAD A LOT IN COMMON.

>> THEY WERE BOTH VERY INNOVATIVE PEOPLE.

THEY WERE BOTH PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY PRONE TO THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, IF YOU WILL.

THEY WERE NOT LIMITED BY THE CULTURE OF THE TIME.

THEY WERE THINKING BEYOND THE CULTURE OF THE TIME.

PAMELA: UNFORTUNATELY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NEVER GOT TO VISIT HIS TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS.

HE DIED IN 1790, SHORTLY AFTER DONATING THE BOOK COLLECTION.

WHAT YOU THINK BEN FRANKLIN WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF HIS NAMESAKE TOWN >> >> I THINK YOU WOULD BE HAPPY.

ESTABLISHED A NICE HOME FOR HIS BOOKS AND I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO KNOW THAT HIS BOOKS STARTED SOMETHING VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

I THINK HE WAS HOPING THAT SOMEBODY IN THIS TOWN WOULD PREFER SENSE TO SOUND.

I'M SURE HE WAS HOPING FOR THAT.

PAMELA: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, YOU CAN STREAM REGIMEN FRANKLIN, A KEN BURNS FILM ON RHODE ISLAND PBS PASSPORT.

DAVID: FINALLY TONIGHT, WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF BONSAI, WHICH BEGAN ALMOST 2000 YEARS AGO IN CHINA AND EVOLVED INTO A JAPANESE ART FORM.

TODAY IN JAPAN, APPRENTICES STUDY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS TO LEARN HOW TO CARE FOR AND SHAPE THE TREES.

HERE AT HOME, THE NEW ENGLAND BONSAI GARDENS AND BELLINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, IS BRINGING THAT TRADITION TO US.

>> MY NAME IS ASHLEY AND I AM THE OWNER OF NEW ENGLAND BONSAI GARDENS.

THE NEW ENGLAND BONSAI GARDENS IS A FULL-SERVICE NURSERY, WHICH MEANS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE TREES TO CUSTOMERS LOOKING FOR BONSAI TREES, BUT SOME PEOPLE GO ON VACATION AND WHEN THEY GO ON VACATION, THEY MIGHT BRING THE TREES BACK TO US FOR A SHORT TERM OR ANCHORED NOW, WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION.

LAST YEAR WE HAD MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS THAT CAME TO THE NURSERY TO LEARN ABOUT THE ART OF BONSAI.

WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS HERE.

WE GET HOW OLD IS THIS PARTICULAR TREE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO ANSWER UNLESS YOU HAVE GROWN IT FROM A SEED AND YOU HAD THE ENTIRE HISTORY.

IN THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW MANY TREES DO WE HAVE?

AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

IT IS THOUSANDS OF BONSAI TREES.

BONSAI BEING ART OR SCIENCE OR HOBBY OR INTEREST, WHILE IT IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS FOR SURE, I ACTUALLY HAVE LEARNED TO CALL IT A WORLDVIEW.

>> I'M A PLANT HEALTH MANAGER HERE AT THE BONSAI GARDENS.

MY PROCESS HERE IS TO MAKE THE TREES HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL AND SHINY AND VIGOROUS.

ANYTHING CAN BE MADE INTO A BONSAI, ANY PLANT.

THE RULE ABOUT A BONSAI IS THAT IT HAS TO LOOK LIKE A TREE AND BE IN A POT.

IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY FEET.

GETTING INTO BONSAI REALLY DOES CHANGE THE WEIGHT YOU SEE THE WORLD AROUND YOU.

WE HAVE OUR HUSTLE AND BUSTLE, BUT THE TREE DOES NOT CARE.

THE TREE NEEDS WHAT THE TREE HAS NEEDED FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

IT DOES TAKE A SPECIAL PERSON TO LOOK AT THESE TREES AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF THEM AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THIS PLANT.

THE GOAL IS FOR THESE TREES TO LIVE THERE FULL LIFESPAN.

HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

SO IT'S OVERWHELMING A LOT OF THE TIME.

IT TAKES A REAL SPECIAL PERSON TO WANT TO GET INTO THIS AND START TAKING CARE OF THESE TREES ON A DAILY BASIS AND PASS IT ONTO TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

I'M PETE OLSON, A BONSAI PROFESSIONAL.

I'VE GOT A TREE THAT'S THE SAME AGE AS ME, SO THAT'S KIND OF NICE GRID WE'VE GROWN UP TOGETHER, IF YOU WILL.

I TAKE CARE OF IT ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEN YOU COME ACROSS A TREE LIKE THIS.

IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A BONSAI THAT LONG BUT THE TREE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 900 YEARS OLD.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

IN THE MID-TO-LATE 80'S GOT INTO BONSAI BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL KARATE KID MOVIE.

AND THAT CREATED A WHOLE BOOM.

IT CREATED THE BOOM AND THE WHOLE INDUSTRY.

>> I'M JOEL, I WORK HERE AT NEW ENGLAND BONSAI GARDENS.

I THINK EVERYONE THAT WORKS IN BONSAI I DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM SWEEPING THE FLOORS TO WORKING ON $20,000 TREES.

WE TOOK A TREE FROM THE NURSERY POT, GET IT INTO A BONSAI POT, AND THEN FROM THERE, IT'S MAINLY WATERING, FERTILIZING, SUNLIGHT.

THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT YOU DO HAVE TO BALANCE.

IT IS HARDER FOR SOME SPECIES THAN OTHERS.

AND THEN, ONCE YOU HAVE KIND OF GOT THAT TREE RECOVERED AND HEALTHY, AFTER THAT WE POT, YOU CAN WIRE THE TREE, THE MAIN THING WITH A BONSAI TREE IS REPOTTING IT ROUTINELY AND PRINTING IT ROUTINELY TO KEEP ITS SHAPE.

THAT IS HOW WE KEEP THEM DWARFED OR AT LEAST SMALL.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LEARN HOW A PLANT GROWS IN A MONTH, IN A WEEK.

YOU REALLY NEED A FULL YEAR TO SEE HOW THAT TREE GROWS.

THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS ARTFORM IS FIGURING OUT THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TREE SPECIES AND HOW THEY GROW AND HOW WE CAN SHOW THEM IN THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY.

THERE IS NO BONSAI PROFESSIONAL OR EVEN ANYONE WHO IS REMOTELY DECENT AT GROWING TREES THAT HAS NOT KILLED A BUNCH OF TREES.

YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, THE DEN -- THE DEMOGRAPHIC OVER THE LAST HOWEVER LONG DOING BONSAI IN AMERICA HAS BEEN 50 TO 75-YEAR-OLD WHITE MAN WITH THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTICK IN YOUNGER PEOPLE, FOR SURE.

ALL GENDERS, NATIONALITIES.

IT'S GREAT.

BONSAI FOR EVERYONE.

>> THAT IS KIND OF A MISCONCEPTION, IS THAT EVERY TREE IS EXPENSIVE.

THERE IS A TREE FOR EVERYBODY AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE TREES IS WATERED DAILY.

AND THEN, IT CAN GO THROUGH A WHEREBY SUMMARY MIGHT SPEND HOURS CURATING THAT TREE.

THEY ARE REWIRING IT, THEY GOT TO REPOT IT, SO ALL OF THAT LABOR AND THE TIME, OBVIOUSLY THE TREE IS SIGNIFICANTLY NICER AND IT LOOKS STYLED, BUT THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED TO THAT.

IF IT PLEASES YOU, IT IS A BONSAI.

THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, YOU CAN SPEND A THOUSAND YEARS AND FOLLOW ALL THE RULES, BUT THE TREES JOB IS TO MAKE YOU SMILE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

IF IT DOES THAT, THEN IT IS PERFECT.

YOU NEVER HAVE TO DO ANYTHING MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

DAVID: THANKS TO ABBY OLDEN FOR THAT REPORT.

TAKING CARE OF BONSAI TREES CAN BE PAINSTAKING WORK, THE HEALTH BENEFITS CAN BE SIGNIFICANTFOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.

THEY INCLUDE PURIFYING THE AIR, LOWERING STRESS LEVELS, DEVELOPING PATIENCE, AND SPARKING CREATIVITY.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

PAMELA: I'M PAMELA WATTS.

WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE.

TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES, AT RIPBS.ORG/ WEEKLY OR GO TO LISTEN OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.

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