My Life As An Educator ~ Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
/So many thoughts about the school shooting that happened in Uvalde, Texas, have been swirling around in my head since the event happened nearly two weeks ago. When I first entered a classroom during the days of educational reform in the 1960’s, it was unthinkable that now more than fifty years later we would dealing with the aftermath of the murder of 21 victims in an elementary school classroom.
Portions of the following piece were published in in the Fall 2010 issue of "The Colorado Communicator," a newsletter for the Colorado Council International Reading Associate. Serving as co-editor for this newsletter was one of my "retirement jobs.”
In 1965, the year I turned 20, I was just beginning my upper level courses that would lead to a degree in elementary education at what was then Colorado State College. That summer, between my sophomore and junior year, I had the very unique opportunity to work as a tutor for Project Head Start in Leadville, Colorado. I was a young, idealistic preservice teacher who jumped at the opportunity to work in a project that was aligned with my budding belief system about the value of education and economic opportunity. While I never articulated my beliefs at the time in this manner, I was also becoming a strong proponent of social justice. I firmly believed that it was only through education that those living in poverty would be able overcome the social and economic inequities that were found in our country at the time.
Those of you who may know anything about Head Start, may remember that in 1965, the Office of Economic Opportunity began the eight-week summer program that would launch Project Head Start. I was one of many tutors and teachers that were hired that summer to serve over 560, 000 children throughout the country in this newly created program.
As a refresher, I want to briefly outline the reasons why Head Start was created. It grew out of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, and I think it is interesting to note that it was created by the Office of Economic Opportunity. The basic premise for this program was established on the belief that education was the solution to breaking the "cycle of poverty." The civil-rights movement of the early 1960’s, greatly influencing education. The premise was: "government was obligated to help disadvantaged groups in order to compensate for inequality in social and economic conditions." Head Start was to be a comprehensible program for preschool children that would meet their "emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs."
As a young woman coming of age during the 60's, I embraced the Civil Rights Movement and the "new" ideas about education, but I also respected and looked up to my mentors who had been in education for a long time. That summer, the summer of 1965, was a pivotal time in my life. It gave me the opportunity to not only work with a gifted, seasoned educator, but it also gave me the opportunity to put into practice for the very first time the theories I was learning about how to become an educator.
My mentor for the summer of 1965, must have been in her sixties when I worked with her. She had taught everything from kindergarten to college. She had been the principal of a one-room schoolhouse at one point in her career. She experientially knew what children needed to grow and to prosper educationally, emotionally, and socially. She embraced the ideals behind Project Head Start and imparted them to me with all of the reasons why the program could be successful.
She said that the children of poverty in the area were beginning school without the skills that more advantaged children brought to school. Some of the children didn't even know how to use indoor plumbing. Yes, in 1965, in our program in Leadville, some of the children did not have indoor plumbing. We had to teach them how to use the bathroom facilities.
Some did not receive proper nutrition at home and many were undernourished.
They lagged behind their peers in knowing how to grasp a pencil or how to turn the pages of a book. Many did not know the alphabet. They did not know how to write their names. Many did not know colors or shapes. They did not have group or personal social skills. All of these needs would be addressed, as best they could be, by our summer program. The program was comprehensive. School readiness was achieved by giving the children equal portions of playtime, story time, art activities, and basic academic preparation such as learning how to recognize and form letters through reading and writing.
A clipping rom the Leadville Herald Democrat
Summer 1965
I am the "Trained Aide" in the photo.
I have a vivid memory of the lunches that these children received. The government's philosophy was that this program should have "maximum feasible participation" for success; therefore, those who would benefit from the program, the low income population, should help plan and run their own programs. Many of the women whom planned and cooked the meals were the mothers of the children.Everyday, they prepared wonderful meals. I loved the Mexican rice they served!. Believe me, in those days the meals fed these children were good. They are nothing like the meals served at schools now that are put together in an off-site place and served to all eating school lunch. In the 60's, at the Leadville Head Start, meals included not only wonderful Spanish rice, they also included fresh baked dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls everyday!
Head Start Students, Summer 1965, Leadville, Colorado, Photo from personal files.
Our lead teacher, Mrs. Riggs was a very practical woman who put up with no nonsense from anyone. Her character was stellar. She saw her role as an educator as one as a public servant. She was not interested in feathering her own nest or building her career. She was there for the children she taught and for the families she served.
In my mind's eye, I see her now. She is wearing the apron she always wore over her clothes so she would have "a place for those tissues to wipe a child's nose or tears," or as a place to keep stray crayons, pencils or rubber bands that she might need while she was teaching. She believed in expecting the best behavior and performance from all kids. Patient, kind and loving, she was also demanding when it came to giving something your best efforts. We ALL learned from her. As I said, I could never have had a better mentor. Mrs. Riggs, and the ideals of Head Start, greatly influenced my philosophy of my own role as an educator.
What is the secret ingredient?
Whenever I make or eat Spanish rice, no matter how good it is, I compare it to the memory I have of the delicious Spanish rice those Head Start students' moms used to make for us each day for lunch. For years, I've wondered just what that secret ingredient was that they use for the delicious flavor.
Of late, I’ve also thought so much of dear Mrs. Riggs and my that summer when I had the great privilege to work with her and learn from her. How I wish I could discuss today's state of education with her. I wonder if she would have a secret ingredient to solve the crisis we have in today’s schools? I know she would have some very strong ideas on what must happen if we are to achieve the lofty ideals that we had in the 60's.
I’m quite sure she would not advocate carrying a gun in the pocket of that apron she donned daily over her clothing, the apron she wore to carry tissues to wipe tears from the eyes of children or the tissue they might need to wipe a runny nose. The pockets of that apron carried extra tools needed in the classroom: crayons chalk, pencils. It would be an anathama to her to think the pockets could carry a gun to protect her dearly loved students.
I think of those days when we had such hope for equal access for all in education, and I am crestfallen to think think that now our precious children are being gunned down in their elementary school classrooms. Mrs. Riggs would be shattered to think such thoughts. So am I. She would have had some strong words about what must be done to protect children, innocent children who should be safe in school, but are not.
An Answer from A Grandmother.
While there is no one ingredient we can bring to the public square as we lament over mull over solutions to end the execrable violence that continues to be carried out in our classrooms, I think these words from a broken-hearted grandmother in Uvalde, Texas, give us a starting place.
“Erase the invisible line that is dividing our nation. Come up with a solution and fix what is broken and make the changes that are necessary to prevent this from ever happening again.”
I support all the reforms and solutions that President Biden outlined in the speech he gave on June 2, 2022. I hope we can see gun reform that will protect us all soon.
