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 When Mary McLeod
Bethune was paging through a book one day, she was ordered to, "Put that
book down! You can't read!" The words were harsh, but the words were
true. She couldn't read.
Born on July 1, 1875, Mary eventually did learn to read when a
mission school opened in her neighborhood. And, when taunted by others on her
way to school, she was taught to fight back with "words and reasoning,
not stones and fists," a lesson she would never forget.
After graduating, she moved to Daytona Beach, FL and opened
"The School." All were welcome to "Enter to Learn, Depart to
Serve." No matter the supplies were few and the surroundings sparse,
children were learning to read, to write and to believe in their abilities.
"The School" became Bethune-Cookman University, still in existence
today. Mary's inspiring story teaches the importance of reading and education
as well as the power of conflict resolution.
RELATED CURRICULUM SUGGESTIONS:
- Career Day
- Conflict Resolution Units
- The writing of biographies
- Units on multi-cultural
awareness
- Units on character
education
- The subjects of social
studies and language arts
SPECIAL CELEBRATION
DATES:
*January 18 - Martin Luther King Day
*February - Black History Month, Youth Leadership Month
*March - Women's History Month
*April 4-10 - National Library Week
*For specific tie-ins to your state's curriculum and learning standards,
please call our office.
TESTIMONIALS:
CHICAGO:
"Excellent.
Very well presented. It really held the students' interest, and a great deal
of information was presented."
-- First Grade Teacher, Berger Vandenberg School, Dolton
"I was fascinated by the energy of the presenter. She stressed the
importance of an education as few are able to do."
-- Eighth Grade Teacher, Portage Park School, Chicago
BOSTON:
"I
thought it was an excellent, informative performance and surprisingly
appropriate for young children. It opened up a lot of discussion for us in
the classroom."
-- Kindergarten Teacher, Columbus Park School, Worcester
"I was amazed. The performance was factually interesting and
emotionally powerful. What a wonderful way to clearly make history come
alive."
-- Fourth Grade Teacher, Buckingham Brown Elementary, Cambridge
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL:
"A
hot day, barometer rising and so, too, the students - 2:00 in the afternoon,
and you hypnotized them with your performance. The time flew."
-- First Grade Teacher, Homecroft School, St. Paul
"We were so engrossed in it, we forgot to keep an eye on the kids.
When we did, they were just as interested as we were. Great character to have
portrayed."
-- Seventh Grade Teacher, IHM-St. Luke's School, St. Paul
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